the goan I network
MAPUSA
Sporting Clube de Goa registered a convincing 2-0 win over Santa Cruz SC Cavelossim in the eighth round match of the Goa Professional League, organised by GFA, at Duler stadium, here on Thursday.
After Thursday's win Sporting climb to the top spot with 18 points from eight matches, while SCC Cavelossim have just 6 points from seven matches and stand at tenth position. SCC Cavelossim coach Severino Fernandes, whose team is undergoing a bad phase, after having lost the last match against Salgaocar FC, made just two changes in his starting line-up -- Perryson Fernandes upfront and Cayven Araujo in the defence. Sporting in-charge Mateus Costa brought in six changes in his starting line-up -- Alesh Sawant, Victorino Fernandes, Avrhisto Fernandes, Peter Carvalho -- after being held to a draw against Guardian Angel.
No goals were scored in the first session of play, though both the teams had some scoring opportunities. It was only in the second session that Flaming Oranje struck twice through Victorino Fernandes (46th min) and Mauvin Borges (66th).
Early in the match, Sporting's Richard Fernandes had a good attempt at the rival goal with a 30-yard shot which was superbly pushed for a corner by Cavelossim keeper Siddesh Morje with a full stretched diving save. In the 16th minute, Cavelossim's Cayven Araujo sent a perfect cross to well positioned Perryson Fernandes inside the penalty box but the latter failed to connect his header into the goal.
As the match progressed, Sporting's Avrhistho Fernandes collecting a ball inside his own half covered some ground and passed it to Victorino Fernandes who fumbled in controlling the ball which however found his team-mate Nigerian Philip Odogwu, who shot over the crossbar.
Cavelossim colts were reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute with the sending off Cayven Araujo by referee Sunil Nanodkar for elbowing Quan Gomes. Just two minutes before the breather Avrhishto sent a through ball to Victorino inside the penalty box who drilled a low strike at the goal which was brilliantly saved by keeper Morje.
On crossing over, Cavelossim defence were caught napping when in the very first minute Flaming Oranje drew the first blood. Victorino floated the ball at the left flank to Alesh Sawant who moved some steps ahead and curled the ball back to an overlapping Victorino, whose placement had no answer from the Cavelossim keeper, 1-0.
Match for the next twenty minutes was restricted to midfield with the keepers being hardly tested. Sporting further consolidated their lead in the 66th minute when Victorino moved inside the penalty box and sent a diagonal pass to substitute Mauvin Borges, who finished clinically into the goal, 2-0.
Flaming Oranje's hunger for goals did not end and they should have netted their third goal in the 82nd minute. Quan received a ball from Mauvin and had a bright chance to aim at the goal but he thought it wise to pass the ball to Victorino inside the 18-yard box, but the latter's strike went just past the side goalpost.
