Mahindra Complete Sensational Comeback To Break Sporting Hearts

The hosts won despite trailing 1-0 three minutes from the end...

10-Jan-2010

Mahindra completed a fairytale comeback late on at the Cooperage to break Sporting hearts and win 2-1. Sporting went into half time leading 1-0, after Alaudeen's mistake allowed Junior to score a minute before the break. Sporting defended for the entire second half, but the hosts equalized only in the 88th minute through Thoi Singh, before Paresh Shivalkar headed home the winner in injury time.

Mahindra United started in their usual 4-4-2 formation with Sushil Singh partnering Muritala upfront while Sporting had four foreigners in their line-up.

It was the visitors, who started better and didn’t look like a team lying at the bottom rung of the I-League table. Under Vishwas Goankar, the demeanour of the Flaming Oranje changed from the underperforming times of the first phase played last year.

Joseph Pereira, Nathaniel Amos and Junior Elijah were in the mood as they danced their way onto the Mahindra half with ease. The first opportunity came their way when Amos found Junior inside the box with the Nigerian’s shot on the turn being well kept by Subashish Choudhary midway through the first half.

Elvino Fernandes sent in a peach of a ball which was taken by Junior to set up a volley only to see his great strike being saved by Subashish.

Around the half hour mark, Nathaniel Amos found his way into the Mahindra box from a throw-in as he made a mockery of the home side’s defence only to shoot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The only real threat Mahindra came up in the first session was when Steven Dias’ cross towards the near post saw Matthew Gonsalves doing the clearance with Sushil Singh being the guilty party.

The Goan side were duly rewarded for their efforts when Junior Elijah scored froma defensive lapse on the part of Kali Alaudeen as he failed to clear Kenji Arai’s long ball.

In the second session, the Jeepmen won several free-kicks but there wasn’t anything notable to mention except from a curler from the left by Steven Dias. 

The most happening incident after the break was of Rovan Pereira handling the ball in the 61st minute, for which referee A.Rowan pointed towards the spot but the linesman had raised his flag for offside. The penalty decision was overturned which left the Mahindra bench fuming.

Mahindra had most of the possession, as Sporting chose to defend rather than look for the second goal. Sushant Matthew was superb in midfield, as he didn't allow the visitors to play in midfield, and distributed the ball well. 

Svetozar, who looked slow in midfield, was taken off midway through the half, and Tamba came on. This turned out to be a good move, as Ajayan shifted into midfield and looked much more effective, as Sporting were on the backfoot.

Sporting had an excellent opportunity to finish off the game when Steven Fernandes aimed at the far post instead of crossing it after some brilliant interplay between Junior and Joseph in the 84th minute.

Substitute Thoi Singh came on and had an instant impact as he headed home a Steven Dias cross to restore parity in the 88th minute. It was a superb cross from the India international, who was once again, the man Mahindra turned to whenever they went forward.

And Dias did the magic again, as he curled in a corner for Paresh Shivalkar, who had a quiet game by his standards, but headed home between Barreto's legs to give Mahindra the three points, which takes them to the third spot in the I-League table.

Sporting, on their other hand, were left heartbroken, and remain bottom of the league.

Goalscorers:

Mahindra United - Thoi Singh (88'), Paresh Shivalkar (91')

Sporting Clube de Goa - Junior Obagbemiro (44')

Rahul Bali

Source: Goal.com

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Added by: Anselm Pio Noronha