Goa Pro League: Sporting Goa thrash Panjim Footballers

Akeraj Martins scored a brace for the Flaming Oranje.

Sporting Clube de Goa overpowered Panjim Footballers with a 5-0 win in the Goa Football Association Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Saturday.

Akeraj Martins (40’, 45’) scored a brace while Rohit Totad (19’), Philip Odogwu (50’) and Gaurav Kankonkar (68’) were the other goal scorers for the Flaming Oranje.

With this win, Sporting Clube de Goa climbed to the top the league table with 19 points from nine games while Panjim remain on 10 points from equal outings.

Sporting Clube de Goa came close to scoring in the eight minute from a set-piece. Myron Fernandes whipped in a delivery from the left at the far post which Alton Vaz managed to get a touch but wasn't sufficient to put the ball at the back of the net.

The Flaming Oranje broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Myron sent another dangerous ball in the box at the far post which Marcus kept the attack going by sending the ball back into the goal area where Rohit Totad buried home to take the lead.

Sporting doubled the lead in the 40th minute when Myron threaded a pass to Gautam on the right flank. The midfielder sent in a low cross in the area which was brilliantly back heeled into the goal by Akeraj Martins, to score his first goal of the season.

Panjim goalkeeper Sherwin brought a splendid save to stop Gaurav Kankonkar from scoring from a direct free-kick.

Akeraj consolidated Sporting lead with another sublime finish just before the half time whistle when he was fed in the area by Marcus. The youngster got the ball on his right foot and curled the ball in the top corner to give no chance to the Panjim keeper Sherwin Da Cunha.

Crossing over, Sporting Clube continued with their attack and inflated their tally to four goals in the the 50th minute. This time it was Philip Odogwu who scored with a flicked header directing a Myron Fernandes cross at the first post giving no chance for Panjim keeper. 

In a one way traffic, Sporting Clube de Goa scored their fifth in the 68th minute. Myron’s corner was headed in the goal by Marcus, which was somehow blocked by Panjim defence however, the ball rolled to Gaurav, who scored from a goal-mouth melee.

Panjim a shot on target in injury time when Krishna Gawas darted into the box and squared to Vallmiky, but his low grounder was easily saved by the keeper.