I-League Media Team

GOA: Sporting Clube de Goa registered their first win in the I-League after they comfortably put it across Salgaocar FC in the Goan derby at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.

Odafa Okolie and Brandon Fernandes scored in either half as Sporting Clube logged 10 points from 14 matches and continued to stay alive in the competition, even though they are at the bottom of the pool. Salgaocar are placed sixth with 14 points from 13 matches.

Sporting Clube de Goa took a 12th minute lead with a spell of brilliant counter-attacking play. Cajetan Fernandes grabbed a ball from his own half, played it to Brandon Fernandes, who sent a defence splitting ball for Anthony Wolfe. The Trinidad striker did well to evade goalkeeper Subrata Paul’s diving challenge and then set it up for Odafa Okolie to tap it home.

The goal came out of the blue and strengthened Sporting Clube’s belief that they could now play for their first win in the tournament. But Salgaocar were unlikely to take the setback lying down. Ivory Coast midfielder Douhou Pierre calmed the situation by holding the ball and finding spaces. Twice in quick succession, Salgaocar had chances but first Gilbert Oliveira shot straight into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Ravi Kumar and then Brian Mascarenhas sent his left-footed drive wide of the mark.

At the other end, there was a chance for Sporting Clube but Wolfe chose to go for glory himself even though setting up unmarked Sporting players inside the box would have been a better option.

Towards the closing stages of the first session, Sporting Clube goalkeeper gifted Salgaocar an opportunity when he handled a back pass. But the subsequent chance was wasted by Gurjinder Kumar who blasted wide an indirect free kick.

Sporting Clube made it 2-0 in the 60th minute when Alber Gonsalves worked his way down the left flank and essayed the ball into the Salgaocar danger zone where Brandon Fernandes did well to spectacularly volley it home.

Salgaocar tried to claw their way back into the game but Sporting Clube were resolute in defence where Miguel Garcia and Sandesh Jhingan were outstanding.