PANAJI
Sporting Clube de Goa beat Dempo SC in the GFA’s U-20 TACA Goa 2-1 at Duler Stadium in Mapusa on Sunday. Snedden Rodrigues (26’) and Perryson Fernandes (74’) got on the scoresheet for the Flaming Oranje while Ivan Costa (67') scored for the Golden Eagles.
Sporting looked the more promising side in the first half as Snedden and Daryl Costa combined well upfront causing some problems early for the Dempo defenders. However, Sporting had to wait till 22nd minute for their first goalmouth action when Jousha Fernandes saw his shot from the edge of the box go marginally wide. In the 24th minute, Dempo won a free kick when Sporting’s Aliston Camotio was booked for a tackle on Clyson Pereira. The free kick was taken by Hayden Fernandes trying to find Assumption Soares, but the latter missed an open header from close.
Sporting drew the first blood in the 26th minute when Harshad Naik beat his marker to make a good run on the right, setting up Snedden for a simple tap in. Rest of the half saw some end to end action but both the sides failed to change the scoreline.
The second half saw a more determined Dempo trying to get back in the game. At the hour mark, Dempo’s Schubert Pereira got hold of a loose ball at the edge of 18 yards to take a rasping shot which went inches away from the Sporting nets. In less than two minutes Dempo were back in action when Hayden connected a good volley from about 20 yards only to see it sail above the crossbar.
Sporting gathered themselves and came back into the game through some smart substitution from coach Savio Vaz. In the 64th minute, Snedden made a fantastic run, dribbling past three defenders only to be stopped by Neston Dais, who made the crucial tackle. Dempo levelled the match in the 67th minute when Ivon Costa headed in a well directed free kick by Hayden from the left.
With the scores tied the teams pushed for the winner and it was the Flaming Oranje who had the last laugh as Daryl made a dazzling run on the right to set up second half substitute Perryson Fernandes with a brilliant ball and the latter drilled the ball in giving the lead back to Sporting in the 74th minute. Sporting had an opportunity to score the third goal of the evening when Alston saw the Dempo goalie out of position to take a tricky shot from 30 yards off. However, Vineet managed to get back just in time to keep the ball out of the Dempo nets. Sporting defended well in the closing period, ensuring they went back with 3 points.
