I-League Media Team

GOA: Sporting Clube continued to be without a win and at the bottom of the pool despite a dominating performance in a goalless draw against Royal Wahingdoh in the Hero I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Tuesday.

Placed at the bottom of the pool, Sporting Clube knew that anything less than a win would just not do for them and seemed determined to start on the right note.

In a first half that was totally dominated by Sporting Clube, Royal Wahingdoh simply stood behind the ball and guarded their citadel fiercely. Sporting Clube launched raid after raid but lacked composure in in front of their goal.

They started creating chances no sooner the match kicked off. Syrian midfielder Mahmoud Al Amna was the first to have a good look at the rival goal but delayed to have a crack at goal when fed by Odafa Okolie. Odafa then picked up Victorino Fernandes but the promising striker could not finish off the move to his team’s liking.

Miguel Garcia went close with a header and Odafa’s shot from just outside the box sailed inches over the cross bar.

The chances continued to come thick and fast for the hosts. Garcia’s header of a cross from Jovel Martins was saved by goalkeeper Nikhil Bernard and there was nobody on hand to turn home the rebound.

Royal Wahingdoh’s attempts on goal were restricted to long rangers. One from Godwin Franco was just wide of the upright and another one by Bekay Bawar landed straight into the hands of the goalkeeper Ravi Kumar.

In the second session, Royal Wahingdoh were in much better form and created chances for themselves to surge ahead. Jackichand Singh was nippy on the left while substitute Seityasen Singh posed plenty of problems for his markers as well. Seityasen had a good chance inside the box until he was tackled well by Sporting Clube defender Sandesh Jhingan.

At the other end, substitute midfielder Brandon Fernandes created a chance for Mahmoud but the Wahingdoh goalkeeper proved equal to the challenge.

Sporting also came close with Jhingan’s header hitting the upright from Brandon Fernandes’s corner towards the closing stages.