Sporting Clube, Salgaocar share spoils at Fatorda

Written by NT Network

Monday, 07 December 2009

MARGAO: Sporting Clube de Goa had to come back from a goal down to hold Salgaocar Sports Club to a 1-1 draw in the Kingfisher Pro League match at Nehru stadium, here, on Sunday.

After a goalless first session, which was dominated by Salgaocar, the former winners surged ahead barely three minutes after restart. A smart header by winger Lester Fernandes put Salgaocar ahead. However, Sporting produced an aggressive fight back with striker Agnelo D’Souza restoring parity with a close range finish.

Salgaocar, who earlier made an impressive start should have got the opener inside the first quarter but midfielder Francis Fernandes was the culprit as he wasted his own efforts twice with some poor finishing.

Sporting were unable to get any sort of rhythm in their play and the Panaji-based outfit’s only noteworthy moments were a booming free-kick by talented winger Agnelo Colaco, which forced a desperate save from Salgaocar keeper Kalyan Chaubey and experienced midfielder Bibiano Fernandes, wasting a decent chance from inside the box close to the lemon-break.

Barring these two close shaves, Salgaocar were always in control of the proceedings, harrying the rival defence constantly and on one such occasion Sporting defender Kenji Arai almost sliced a Rouhollah Samienia free-kick inside his own net in the 21st minute.

The change of ends saw Salgaocar wasting pretty little time to move ahead with winger Lester Fernandes connecting a strong header off a Samienia corner-kick, which gave no chance whatsoever to Sporting keeper Luis Barreto and defender Filipe Gomes as the ball rocketed into the top corner of the nylons in the 47th minute.

The goal forced some tactical changes with Sporting resorting to their more normal three-man defence and adding additional striker upfront in the form of Cavin Lobo, who came in place of the ineffective youngster Stephen Barreto and wing back Fulgencio Cardozo was replaced by Michael Tayo.

The move paid instant dividends and Sporting salvaged the equaliser in the 70th minute. Winger Joseph Pereira quickly took a corner-kick to an unmarked Agnelo Colaco on the right flank and the winger’s curling cross inside the box was not dealt with properly by the Salgaocar defenders and Agnelo D’Souza waiting for an opportunity had an easy job just to tap the ball into the net from just two yards out. Sporting increased the pressure after scoring the equaliser and could have easily got all the points but Salgaocar keeper Kalyan Chaubey brought off three splendid saves including a breathtaking one-handed diving effort, seven minutes before the end of play to deny winger Joseph Pereira, whose right footer was destined to find the nylons at the far corner.

Source: navhindtimes.in

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