Sporting Clube start with 3-0 win

the goan I network

PANAJI 

Sporting Clube de Goa kicked off their GSPL 2 campaign with a 3-0 win over Goan FC in Match 7 of the Goa Sevens Premier League, organised by Goa Sevens and Ambelim Sports Club in association with Goa Football Association (GFA), at Ambelim Sports Complex, on Monday.  

Alesh Sawant scored a brace for the Flaming Oranje in the first half, while George Souza added one more in the second half.  

The young Gaurs, having won their previous encounter with a narrow 2-1 margin against Guardian Angel, began the game with a win in mind. Issac Negerado and Liston Colaco found a place in the team’s starting line-up, while Princeton Rebello and Savior Gama were kept on the bench. On the other hand, Pro League and recently crowned Police Cup champions began the game on a bright note with Clemente Joseph leading the side.  

The initial minutes witnessed complete attack from the Pro League champions. George Souza’s shot off a free kick was swiftly tapped for a corner by the Goan keeper Dylan D’Silva, denying them the opener. The best chance for Goan FC came in the 8th minute as Liston Colaco’s long pass to Issac Negeredo was well placed but the latter failed to shoot it on target.  

 The Sporting lads looked stronger with runs down the sides by Ganesh Thankur and Marcus Mascarenhas but the Gaurs defence stood strong in clearing the dangers. The Flaming Oranje finally surged ahead in the 18th minute after Alesh Sawant moved in from the midfield and placed in a perfect one to one pass with Cajetan Fernandes, whose back pass was netted into the bottom of the nets by Alesh, giving the Sporting side the much-deserved lead.   

 The fast paced game saw the Goan side coming close to making it all square but a diving save by keeper Melroy Fernandes denied the Gaurs the equaliser. Sporting Clube doubled their lead through Alesh just before half time as he neatly headed the ball in from the corner post as they went into the break with a 2-0 lead.  

On resumption, the Gaurs looked good for a comeback as Aaren D’Silva and Leander D’Cunha tried their luck from outside the box but failed to place their strikes into the nets. On the other hand, Marcus of Sporting had an easy chance to tap in into an open target but he placed his shot wide.  

Liston, on the other side, looked determined to reduce the deficit with constant runs. His powerful long ranger hit the top bar, missing out going into the net. Substitute Victorino Fernandes came in and provided some pace but he missed the target on numerous attempts.  

The Gaurs were still not giving up as Liston along with substitute Saviour Gama kept striking at the Sporting goal. But they found themselves three goals down as George Souza’s low shot deflected off defender Leander’s foot, landing straight into the net, 3-0.