MAPUSA, March 24: Sporting Clube de Goa took the wind out of Dempo Sports Club’s sails with a solitary goal victory in a 21st round I-League clash at the Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Sunday (March 24).
Sporting scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute after Dempo defender Rowilson Rodrigues turned Juan Pena’s cross into his own goal.
The win was Sporting Clube’s fifth in a row and the sixth time they have done that without conceding, a remarkable transformation for a side that was clobbered easily in the early stages of the competition. Dempo are now seven points adrift of leaders Churchill Brothers.
Sporting Clube took Dempo by surprise with an attacking game. They created numerous chances in the early stages of the game and it was only poor finishing by Sporting striker Dawson Fernandes and Juan Pena that denied Sporting an early lead.
Dempo had not much to show in the opening session and their only clear chance came from a swift counter attack which saw Anthony Pereira relay a cross right into the heart of the Sporting defence where Dempo striker Ryuji Sueoka headed powerfully only for goalkeeper Bruno Colaco to effect an excellent save.
Sporting Clube took the lead early in the second session when Juan Pena’s intended cross for Ogba Kalu was turned into his own goal by Dempo defender Rowilson Rodrigues.
Hardly had Sporting scored, they had two good chances to swell the lead but Kalu first mistimed his run and a minute later Jovel Martins’ beautiful cross was headed wide by striker Dawson Fernandes from handshaking distance.
Dempo soon found their feet and could have so easily drawn level. Joaquim Abranches had carved an opening for John Menyongar but the Dempo striker fluffed the chance by delaying even though he had cut past the goalkeeper and had an open goal in front of him.
Sporting had two chances to increase their lead in the final minutes but Kalu and Japanese striker Seiya Sugishita missed from close range.
Sporting scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute after Dempo defender Rowilson Rodrigues turned Juan Pena’s cross into his own goal.
The win was Sporting Clube’s fifth in a row and the sixth time they have done that without conceding, a remarkable transformation for a side that was clobbered easily in the early stages of the competition. Dempo are now seven points adrift of leaders Churchill Brothers.
Sporting Clube took Dempo by surprise with an attacking game. They created numerous chances in the early stages of the game and it was only poor finishing by Sporting striker Dawson Fernandes and Juan Pena that denied Sporting an early lead.
Dempo had not much to show in the opening session and their only clear chance came from a swift counter attack which saw Anthony Pereira relay a cross right into the heart of the Sporting defence where Dempo striker Ryuji Sueoka headed powerfully only for goalkeeper Bruno Colaco to effect an excellent save.
Sporting Clube took the lead early in the second session when Juan Pena’s intended cross for Ogba Kalu was turned into his own goal by Dempo defender Rowilson Rodrigues.
Hardly had Sporting scored, they had two good chances to swell the lead but Kalu first mistimed his run and a minute later Jovel Martins’ beautiful cross was headed wide by striker Dawson Fernandes from handshaking distance.
Dempo soon found their feet and could have so easily drawn level. Joaquim Abranches had carved an opening for John Menyongar but the Dempo striker fluffed the chance by delaying even though he had cut past the goalkeeper and had an open goal in front of him.
Sporting had two chances to increase their lead in the final minutes but Kalu and Japanese striker Seiya Sugishita missed from close range.
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