MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa huffed and puffed on their way to a solitary goal win over Clube Sao Miguel de Taleigao, in the GFA’s Professional League, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Wednesday.
Sporting now climb to the top of the league table with 21points from nine matches while Taleigao continue at 3 points from ten matches.
Despite lurking at the bottom of the league table, Taleigao refused to play underdogs and gave their opponents a run for their money.
The only goal of the match happened in the 42nd minute through Victorino Fernandes.
It was Sporting who had the first crack at the rival goal when Mauvin Borges made his way down the left flank and flashed the ball across the goal area to Francis Dadzie who failed to provide the finishing touches.
A minute later Taleigao’s Manuel Fernandes sent a perfect pass to Octavio Miranda right inside the danger zone, but Sporting defender Harpreet Singh came with a timely clearance before any damage could be done.
In the 27th minute, Loveday Enyinnaya sent his 35-yard free-kick towards Francis Dadzie, whose firm header was brilliantly collected by the diving Taleigao custodian Rohan Sheikh.
The inclusion of Victorino Fernandes into the squad in the 38th minute ignited the much needed spark into the Sporting attack.
Just three minute after taking the field Victorino got hold of the ball from Francis Dadzie and unleashed a power-packed shot which ricocheted off the Taleigao woodwork.
In the next minute itself Victorino once again attacked and this time he tasted success, when he tapped home Harpreet Singh’s cross, 1-0.
Changing ends, Sporting initiated a series of raids on their rivals but failed to taste success. Sporting went on a full-fledged offensive mode. Victorino and Dadzie created 6 stunning chances among themselves but nothing went past the keeper.
In the 52nd minute Victorino set up Dadzie with a beautiful cross the former scored a stunning goal but was surprisingly flagged offside which left Sporting officials and their supporters at Duler fuming.
In the 59th minute Taleigao keeper Rohan came with a neat save to push away Dadzie’s header.
Couple of minutes into the match, keeper Rohan failed to hold onto Alber Gonsalves powerful shot but managed to grab hold of the ball before Dadzie who was lurking nearby could strike home.
In the closing stages Victorino once again tried his luck at the goal, but keeper Rohan managed to ward off the danger.
Speaking to the media, Sporting Clube de Goa CEO Victor Fernandes said, “It is disappointing and disheartening to be at the receiving end of such atrocious decisions from referees time and again. There is a serious need to look into the refereeing matters by GFA, this cannot continue always.”
