GANGTOK: Sporting Clube de Goa continue to shine under Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon. On Sunday, they comfortably defeated Bhaichung Bhutia co-owned United Sikkim Football Club 3-0 at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok and climbed to the sixth spot in the league table.
Courtesy the result, United Sikkim Football Club becomes the first club to be relegated in this I-League season.
Dawson Fernandes gave an early lead in the 10th minute with a thumping header and Pratesh Shirodkar doubled the lead in added time of first half. A deflected goal from substitute Seiya Sugishita in 91st minute made it a comfortable victory for the Goan side.
United Sikkim could have made a competitive match, if they had not missed two consecutive chances to equalize in first half. A sharp cross was sent in by striker Pablo Aracil Rodriquez but to his dismay, the ball hit the crossbar. Nurudeen Salau could only head the rebound over the bar.
Just before half-time, Fernandes found plenty of space to run into the United Sikkim goal and he shot to the left of goalkeeper Rakshit Kumar who made a diving save. Shirodkar had followed the ball and headed the loose ball into the United Sikkim net.
In the second half, the visitors packed their midfield and defence to soak up the United Sikkim’s attacks. John Landa Matkin did try to take the initiative but for all his hard work, United Sikkim players could hardly trouble Sporting Clube’s goalkeeper Bruno Colaco.
Added time brought more misery to the home team.
A fierce free-kick from outside the box taken by Kalu Ogba hit teammate Seiya and took deflection beating the United Sikkim goalkeeper on its way to the goal.
“We combined well and capitalized on our chances. It was a very good performance from my players and the victory further consolidates our position in the upper half of I-League”, said Bruzon.
United Sikkim coach Nathan Hall rued the missed chances in the game which has been the story of the team throughout the season.
“We tried hard but could not convert our chances. Our opponents had probably five chances and scored three goals. We wanted to give something to cheer to our supporters in our penultimate home match but we failed to do that. It is very disappointing”, he said.
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