Sporting Clube de Goa get better of Mumbai City FC with emphatic 4-0 win
Players of Sesa FA and Cortalim Villagers in action, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa.
PANAJI
Sesa Football Academy secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Cortalim Villagers SWSC in the inaugural editon of the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy, organized by GFA at Duler Stadium on Wednesday.
Shridarnath and Beckham Singh scored the goals for the winners.
The match was even throughout the first session. However, the turning point of the match arrived in the first half stoppage time when Cortalim Villagers' goalkeeper, Francis Vincent, received a red card for a handball outside his penalty area, reducing his team to ten men.
Sesa FA capitalized on their numerical advantage in the second half, scoring twice to claim all three points.
Cortalim Villagers started the match brightly, controlling the midfield and creating early goal-scoring opportunities. However, they were unable to convert their dominance into goals. The tide turned towards the end of the first half when Vincent's dismissal forced Cortalim to play with a depleted backline.
Sesa FA wasted no time exploiting their newfound advantage in the second half. In the 54th minute, Shridharnath Dyaneshwar tapped the ball in from a Beckham Singh corner, putting his side ahead.
Just three minutes later, Beckham Singh doubled Sesa FA's lead with a brilliant solo effort. He dribbled past the Cortalim Villagers defense before firing a shot past the goalkeeper to extend his team's lead.
Despite being a man down, Cortalim Villagers almost pulled a goal back through Velroy Carvalho. However, Sesa FA's skipper, Roanal Gaunkar, produced a diving save to deny Carvalho and preserve the clean sheet.
Sporting Clube de Goa, the reigning Goa Pro League champions, began their campaign in emphatic fashion, crushing Mumbai City FC 4-0.
Sporting Clube wasted no time in asserting their dominance against a lackluster Mumbai City side. In the 11th minute, Lloyd Cardozo unleashed a powerful shot that the Mumbai goalkeeper parried away. However, the clearance fell fortuitously to Rohan Rodrigues, who capitalized on the error by heading the ball home to give the Goan outfit a well-deserved lead.
Sporting Clube doubled their advantage before halftime through another goal from Cardozo. This time, the prolific forward displayed his clinical finishing by tapping in a cross from Kunal in the 35th minute, sending his team into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead.
The second half was a one-sided affair as Sporting Clube continued to dictate the tempo of the game. Mumbai City FC, missing several key players, struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities in attack.
Biswa Darjee further extended Sporting Clube's lead in the 52nd minute with a moment of individual brilliance. He received the ball on the edge of the box after Lloyd Mascarenhas intercepted a move by Mumbai. Biswa unleash a curling effort that found the top corner, leaving the Mumbai City goalkeeper with no chance.
Darjee completed his brace deep into stoppage time, displaying his aerial prowess by heading home a pinpoint cross from Rohan Rodrigues. This goal sealed a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Sporting Clube de Goa and sent a strong message to their Bhausaheb Bandodkar Trophy competitors.
The result highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides. Sporting Clube de Goa, with their well-drilled squad and attacking prowess, were far too strong for a Mumbai City FC team lacking cohesion and creativity.
