PANJIM, FEB 19
Sporting Clube de Goa tasted their second success when they demolished Musli Power Churchill Brothers 1-0 in the second semi-final of Kingfisher Super Cup soccer at Duler stadium, Mapusa on Friday. There was no score at half time.
Sporting Clube will now take on formidable Dempo Sports Club in the finals on Sunday and coach Vishwas is confident that his boys will not want to change gears as the team’s morale has been given the much needed boost, which he hopes will be carried forward not only in the finals, but still further in the remaining I-League matches.
It would have been another sad day for the Flaming Orange as medio Freeman Piexoto, who was given the responsibility to take the spot kick, after his teammate Joseph Pereira was brought down inside the danger zone by Churchill goalkeeper Lalit Thapa, saw him shooting out, much to the disbelief of the Sporting bench and supporters in the second session.
Ultimately, Sporting owe their success to striker Agnelo D’Sousa who scored the precious match-winner in the 61st minute. It was following a counter-attack that Joychandra put Angelo through and the last named did the job with aplomb flicking the ball over the rival goalkeeper.
Overall, Sporting were deserving winners as they had more scoring chances than their counterparts. On two occasions, the ball deflected from just outside the Churchill danger zone.
Chruchill Brothers were not too far behind their rivals. They also had chances to score, but twice it was Sporting Clube goalkeeper Gerard D’Mello who effected superb saves from close range.
Churchill’s Lenny Rodirgues shot inches wide from a long range attempt, while in the 34th minute Warundeep Singh failed to find the net from close quarters following a Dan Ito free-kick.
Bollywood actor, Dino Morea is being roped in for the finals, stated Savio Messias, GFA’s secretary.