Ivon's early strike keeps Sporting top in win over Geno FC

PANAJI

A clinical first-half strike from Ivon Costa was enough to secure all three points for Sporting Clube de Goa as they defeated Geno FC 1-0 at the Duler Stadium on Monday. The victory further solidifies the Flaming Oranje’s position at the top of the table as they continue their march toward the Goa Pro League title.

The decisive moment came in the 17th minute when Ivon Costa found space just outside the area. Unleashing a powerful, clear shot from distance, Costa beat the Geno FC goalkeeper to break the deadlock and give Sporting an early 1-0 lead.

Sporting nearly doubled their advantage immediately after the restart. In the 46th minute, Anil Zore spearheaded a lightning-fast break, charging toward the left corner. However, his final effort narrowly missed the target, keeping the margin thin.

Geno FC pushed for the equaliser in the second half, coming closest in the 53rd minute. A well-placed corner kick from the right flank caused tension in the Sporting box, but the delivery failed to find the net as the Flaming Oranje defense held firm.

The home side continued to threaten through coordinated team play. In the 55th minute, Joyson Gauncar threaded a pass to captain Kunal Kundaikar, who was making a surging run down the left wing. Kundaikar’s subsequent strike was goal-bound but was safely gathered by the Geno FC keeper.

Ivon Costa almost doubled his tally in the 68th minute, attempting to bag a brace with another ambitious effort, though he couldn't replicate his first-half precision. Sporting's disciplined backline ensured the early lead remained intact until the final whistle, successfully extending their unbeaten run.

Meanwhile, in the relegation league fixture played at Tilak Maidan, Pax of Nagoa SC registered a narrow victory over Vasco SC with Adarsh Raj MR scoring the decisive goal late in the match to seal the win.