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Solitary-goal win for Sporting Clube

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: Sporting Clube de Goa continued its reign at the top, beating Chirag United SC by a solitary goal in the sixth round of the I-League here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

Joseph Pereira found the net in the 73rd minute, helping the visitor collect full points. Sporting Clube has 15 points from six matches while Chirag remained on five.

Controlling a greater part of the exchanges in the action-packed second session, the host came close to scoring thrice.

Missed chances

But with its attackers floundering the opportunities, United SC drew a blank on the goal count. On the other hand, the visitor remained submissive for a greater part of the action apparently preserving the energy to launch counter-attacks. The ploy worked well as the host forgot to lock its own backyard in the eagerness to attack giving away the initiative to the visitor. Pereira came at the end of a series of brilliant passes that had the opposition defence in total disarray.

Sporting Clube’s Nigerian attacker Amos Nathaniel made the first try latching on to a midfield through-pass. The United SC custodian Gopal Das blocked it, but Pereira slotted home on the rebound. The opening session was sedate as both sides preferred to play cautious.

Poor arrangements

Earlier, the match started nine minutes late as the local organiser failed to arrange a chair for the fourth referee. There was more agony in store as the power went off plunging the stadium into darkness.

The first session was held up for 27 minutes.

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