MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa register a hard-fought 1-0 win over Calangute Association in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played under floodlights at Duler Stadium, on Sunday.
Sporting are the only unbeaten team in the league, however, they could not defeat FC Bardez despite leading 3-0 until the 70th minute in their last outing where the match ended in a high scoring 3-3 draw. On the other hand, Calangute were defeated by Salgaocar FC in the last match.
Sporting coach Mateus Costa almost changed half of the team bringing in Nigerian striker Abiola
Afuwape, George D’Souza, Cajetan Fernandes, goalkeeper Melroy Fernandes and U-20 midfielder Myron Fernandes in the starting XI. While Calangute made three changes to the side as Josley Dias, Omkar Satelkar and Myron Fernandes found their names in the line-up.
In the opening three minutes, Sporting should have taken the lead when George tried to find Quan Gomes with a fine cross from the left but Quan’s delayed move helped Calangute keeper Jason D’Mello to push the ball away for a corner. A few minutes later, Sporting’s Marcus Mascarenhas had a brilliant opportunity to put his side infront when he dribbled past the Calangute defender Bersal Viegas but the Calangute keeper once again came off his line to keep his side safe.
In the 28th minute, Calangute also came close to scoring whe Myron tried his luck from the distance with the ball but his curling shot was pushed away for a corner by Sporting keeper Melroy after putting in a dive.
Ten minutes later, Sporting’s Nigerian striker Abiola brilliantly beat defender Mayur Shelar and found himself with just keeper to beat but Jason made no mistake to collect the ball quickly.
In the 42nd minute, Calangute’s Myron chipped the ball only to miss the target by few inches with every opponent beaten.
The teams went into the breather with the scores tied 1-1..
On changing the sides, Sporting open the score line through Quan who scored an easy tap-in after Nigerian striker Abiola fumbled to connect Marcus’ low cross in the box.
Calangute had the best opportunity to equalise in the very next minute when Joston Pereira’s cross was cut off by Sporting keeper Melroy, however, the ball rolled to Josley in the box but his shot rebounded off the crossbar.
On the other hand, Sporting defender Sodiq Ibrahim wasted an easy chance to score as he shot the ball wide from ahandshaking distance with rival keeper completely out of position.
Sporting coach Mateus brought in their star striker Victorino to sharpen the team’s attack but he could not make any difference to the score line as he wasted an easy chance to double their lead when Marcus’ smart cross found Quan in the box who volleyed it to substitute striker but Victorino tapped the ball wide from close.
Two minutes later, Sporting wasted another chance, as this time Marcus shot wide from inside with justthe keeper to beat, off Quan’s cross.
