Goa Pro League: YC Manora go down to mighty Sporting Goa

The defending champions recorded another narrow win in the league.

Youth Club of Manora went down fighting, as Sporting Clube De Goa secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over the debutant side in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Sunday. Marcus Mascarenhas scored the all-important goal in the 84th minutes to secure a second straigt victory for the Flaming Orange.

Manora coach Roque Carneiro made few changes to his side following a 1-1 draw in the last match against Guardian Angel SC. Keeper Alison Soares replaced Luis Barreto, while he also named Savio D’Souza and Aaron Dias in the starting XI. On the other hand, tactiician Francisco Savio Vaz also made two changes to his side which secured a narrow win over Vasco SC in their previous match. Gourav Kankonkar and Allan Peixoto found their names in the Sporting lineup.

It was all sporting in the first half, as they started attacking from the kickoff and came up with the first chance of the match in the very fourth minute. Allan found Alton Vaz from a perfect corner, but the skipper headed wide from just outside the six-yard box. Two minutes later, Sporting had another opportunity. Marcus Mascarenhas setup Gourav with a short floated cross with just the keeper to beat, but the midfielder could not make the most of an easy opportunity.

Manora also had a chance to surge ahead in the 12th minute. Melisho Camotio made a darting run on the left flank before curling it to Nicholas Fernandes in the box, but Sporting defender Alton came to rescue his side with a timely clearance.

At the other end, Sporting continued their raids on the rivals at regular intervals. First, Kunal Kundaikar tried to find their midfielder Rohit Totad with a long pass, but Manora keeper Alison came off his line and cleared the danger on time. The Flaming Orange wasted another great opportunity in the 35th minute. Marcus curled the ball to Gaurav in front of goal, but the lad tapped the ball over the crossbar.

Sporting were once again denied by Manora’s keeper Alison, as he brilliantly blocked Marcus’s freekick from just outside the box, but ball rolled to an unmarked Allan in the box. The midfielder saw his sparkling strike rebound off the crossbar. They had the best chance of the match in the 44th minute. Allan found Kunal in the box from a corner. He jumped high and headed the ball towards goal. But, Manora midfielder Caetano Fernandes cleared off the line.

On crossing over, Sporting had two good opportunities to take the lead. First, Marcus sent a cross to Brendon Gommes in front of goal. His header was making its way into goal, but Manora keeper Alison brilliantly fisted it over the crossbar. From the resultant corner, Myron Fernandes found Gourav, who went for glory with a first time attempt, only to see it blocked by rival defender Aaron Dias.

At the other end, the South Goan side were awarded a free-kick just outside the box. Nicholas found a completely unmarked Savio D’Souza in front of goal, but the midfielder failed to keep his header on target with the rival keeper completely out of position.

Sporting also came close to scoring in the 74th minute. Myron’s corner was brilliantly connected by Kunal from inside the box, but the tall defender was denied by the woodwork. The rebound from Dattaraj was brilliantly blocked by Manora keeper Alison.

Alison who was brilliant in the entire match, was finally beaten in the 84th minute. A long cross by Myron was nicely headed home by Sporting forward Marcus to give all three points to the Flaming Orange.

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