Goa Pro League: Sporting Goa edge to win, Velsao hold Dempo

Both the games of the day were cagey affairs.

Sporting Clube de Goa registered a solitary goal win over Corps of Signals in the Goa Pro League match played at 3MTR Ground, Navelim, on Friday. Delton Colaco scored the only goal of the game for the Flaming Oranje in the 78th minute. There was little action in the first 45 minutes as Sporting Clube de Goa took time to settle in the game while Signals made it difficult for their opponents using their pace to their advantage. Sporting Clube, who struggled to break the Signals back line finally came close to the goal when George D’Souza whipped in a perfect delivery in the box to Marcus Mascarenhas, however the skipper’s attempt went way over the bar. [KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] At the other end, Signals, who constantly pressed their opponents, had a chance to surge ahead in the 20th minute when Sukhlab Bordoloi played a long ball in the box from the right flank which was met by Nim Bhutia, but the star midfielder couldn’t direct his header in the goal. Nim should have done better considering the time and space he had. Nim creates problems for Sporting Clube back line with his pace but after doing everything well, the lad couldn’t help his team in breaking the strong Sporting Clube de Goa defence line led by Joseph Clement, George, Alton Vaz and Brandon Gomes. In the second half, Sporting Clube de Goa came with renewed ideas as Stendly Fernandes replaces Dattaraj, and the substitution brought some life in the Flaming Oranje midfield. They had a chance to go a goal up when George laid a perfect pass to Marcus from the left, but it didn’t seem to be Marcus’ day as his effort from inside the box, went way over the bar. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="RELATED NEWS | ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] There were some moments of nervousness for Sporting as Signals attacked in numbers. But composed goalkeeping by Akshat saw them remain still in the game. Akshat denied Signals Surjit Singh with a crucial save. Later, Sporting’s Joseph blocked a Nim Bhutia’s pile driver from inside the box. Finally in the 78th minute, Sporting Clube de Goa came with the breakthrough when Stendly played a long cross from the right flank which was left by Marcus Mascarenhas to second half substitute Philip, however the latter dummied a fake run for the ball and left the ball to Delton who was free on goal and the second half substitute shot past Signals keeper Binu, 1-0. Sporting Clube managed to maintain their lead till the final whistle. Meanwhile in another match at Rosary ground, Navelim, Dempo Sports Club scored a late equalising goal through Beevan D’Mello to script a hard earned 1-1 draw against bottom placed Velsao SCC. Earlier, Velsao SCC had taken the lead through Romario Da Costa in the 37th minute. Golden Eagles’ second half substitute Beevan scored the equalising goal in the 84th minute. Click here for the Goa Pro League 2019-20 points table after this match.