Team Herald
MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa outclassed Vasco Sports Club as they registered a thumping 5-1 win in the 1st AWES Cup 2017 group C match, organised by Goa Football Association (GFA) and Dempo Sports Club Juniors, played at Duler Stadium, here on Monday.
Sporting Clube led 1-0 at half time with a goal from captain Victorino Fernandes. Sporting Clube had their star striker to thank for the big victory as Victorino scored a hat-trick while other goals were scored by Marcus Mascarenhas and George D’Souza.
Sporting coach Mateus Costa made sure that their newly signed keeper Ozen Silva, defensive midfielder Peter Carvalho and Girsh Naik make the cut.
While Vasco coach Eban Misquita missed the services of Micky Fernandes and Sherwin Lobo due to minor injuries. Sporting were the dominant side where in one of their attack, Mauvin Borges made an excellent run from his own half but his powerful shot from outside the penalty box, was brilliantly saved by the Vasco keeper Suresh Lamani.
A minute later, Vasco were unlucky not to score as their winger Anil Gaonkar saw his long ranger hit the crossbar.
In the 27 minutes, Sporting took the lead through Victorino Fernandes. The striker made an easy tap-in from the mouth of the goal off a deadly cross from Ganesh Thakur.
A few minutes later, Sporting had another chance to double their lead when Mauvin was in a one-on-one situation with Vasco keeper Suresh but he shot wide instead of directing it in the goal.
The last few minutes of the first session witnessed Vasco dominating with the ball and better attacking index but this could not help them to find the equaliser and the Sporting entered the dressing room with a solitary goal lead. Vasco coach Eban Misquita brought in fresh-leg Minesh Kunkolkar and Steven Colaco replacing exhausted Savio Dias and Anil at the half time to sharpen the attack.
Sporting’s George D’Souza saw his perfect free-kick brilliantly fisted over the crossbar by Vasco keeper Suresh.
At the other end, Beneston Barreto scored a goal which will be remembered by his team mates and supporters for long. The lone striker made no mistake to connect on the run, past Sporting keeper Ozen after receiving a diagonal pass from the Franky Oliveira.
The port side could not hold Sporting for a long as within next 15 minutes Victorino once again put Sporting ahead with a superb goal. The striker easily cut past keeper Suresh before placing the ball into the back of the nylons.
The last ten minutes witnessed two more goals from the men in Orange. Victorino completed his hat-trick when he dribbled past few defenders and made no mistake from the close to beat the goalkeeper, 3-1. Four minutes later, fresh leg Marcus Mascarenhas who came in for Ganesh made it 4-1 with a superb finish from inside the box, after he was fed by George with a pinpoint perfect cross from the left.
The show did not stop there, as George added his name to the goal scorer list with a power-packed free-kick from the edge of the box which hit the cross bar before entering the goal.
