I-LEAGUE Media Team

GOA: Time is running out for Sporting Clube de Goa who need to start winning in order to save themselves the drop in the Hero I-League.

Placed at the bottom of the pool and without a win to their credit in 12 matches, Sporting Clube now meet Royal Wahingdoh in their 13th Hero I-League clash at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Tuesday.

Sporting Clube have done well since the resumption, drawing two games at home and losing away to defending champions Bengaluru FC. They dominated both their matches played at Fatorda against Dempo Sports Club and Shillong Lajong FC but their ability to kill off games frustrates coach Mathew D’Costa.

“We played good games but we have to go back and see what’s going wrong. You cannot relax till the 90th minute. You have to stay alert,” he said after the draw against Dempo where they conceded the equalizer in the final minute.

The coach admitted they have to start winning before it’s too late to make a comeback.

“There are great teams in the I-League. We can still bounce back and come up with some good things. We have eight more matches and can still win some matches. The most important thing for now is to avoid relegation,” he signed off.

Royal Wahingdoh have been the surprise package in this edition of the I-League and find themselves placed third with 21 points from 12 matches. They have only Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan ahead of them and coach Santosh Kashyap will be keen to cut the gap on the league leaders.

Royal Wahingdoh played an entertaining 3-3 draw against Bengaluru FC in the last match. It was a huge improvement from their first leg loss to the defending champions and that too when playing at home but Kashyap feels they should have had better results for the huge attempts on goal that they had.

 “We dominated over in Shillong as well and hit the bar three times against Bengaluru. It was in the counter attacks that we lost. They are a talented side and well organized in all areas of the game, but this time we were very careful.

“My defence did an excellent job to stop the top players from Indian football and against Sporting Clube we will have to do more of the same,” he said.

Match KO: Mar 7 @ 4:30 PM IST (Ten Action)
 

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