The Goan Network:
Fatorda:Sporting Clube de Goa has wheels with spokes. Yet there is a wobble. That wobble helped Bengaluru Football Club score a convincing 3-1 win against the Goan team in the seventh round of the I league played at the Nehru stadium,Fatorda.
Todays defeat means sporting are yet to collect their first three points. There is despair but their script is not yet dismal.
The Sporting/ Bengaluru encounter was devoid of thrills. The ball bulged the nets four times and the referee produced the yellow card on five occasions. As the score line said, Bengaluru walked away not just with the points but an over meaning presence on the field.
Sporting started without Anthony Wolfe. Without him Victorino looked forlon. Kalu was there. But just there and about. By the time Wolfe replaced Passi there was little that could be done as the boys from Bengaluru had scented that the three points were theirs.
Bengaluru opened their account in the 29th minute through Sean Rooney. Seeing Sporting goalkeeper Ravi Kumar out of his line, Rooney neatly chipped over for his first goal of the day. His second materialised in the 46th minute off a free kick. The ball let Ravi baffled as it went in after brushing past a Sporting defender off the wall.
Sportingly rarely managed to circumvent the Bengaluru defense. As in the past games , today too it was evident the team needs a player who can hold the ball for the team. Without the proper apparatus , the results can go anyway.
Sandesh Jhingan did his best by marshalling the defense for his team. Captain Miguel Gracia appeared to go through momentary bouts of distraction. With Victorino well aproned by Bengaluru's Curtis osano and John Johnson there was little the others could do to trouble Bengaluru's under-23 goalkeeper Lathuammawia Ralte.
Sporting's consolation goal came in the 65th minute when Wolfe chipped the ball over the onrushing Bengaluru goalkeeper. Kalu nodded it to him in one of the team's sporadic attempts at the rival citadel.
That was the closest the sporting boys could come. The Bengaluru FC lads without Sean and Chhetri-both substituted- scored one more fizzling out doubts of a Sporting come back.
With this win today Bengaluru are inching closer to the top of the table. They are just a point away from Mohun Bagan. "The team has been re grouping well after a few hiccups. But the trends are reversing," said Bengaluru coach Ashley West Wood.
Sporting's tale is different. It will be so until they inject rhythm whilst wagging their tail. Just excuses will not be taken sportingly.
