Sporting Clube de Goa started their campaign in the 2nd Edition Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy with a 4-1 win over Pax of Nagoa SC at Duler Stadium, here, on Monday.
Flaming Orange playing their first match of the tournament started aggressively and struck three goals through Francisco Fernandes (19th minute) and Dhiraj Chouhan (32nd minute) and Dattaraj Gaonkar (44th minute) in the first session.
In the very first minute, Sporting Clube’s Biswa Darjee who was left unmarked failed to keep his header into the goal frame.
However, as the match progressed striker Francisco Fernandes latched a rasping 25-yard strike which crashed into the far top corner of the goal 1-0.
Pax of Nagoa had a chance to level terms in the 28th minute, but Sporting Clube’s custodian Abhimanyu Singh brought a smart save to deny Beneston Barretto from scoring in one to one situation.
Minutes later, Sporting Clube custodian once again came with a full stretched diving save to push Beneston stiff grounder for a corner. Sporting Clube’s Dhiraj Chouhan doubled the lead where his shot from inside the 6-yard box struck rival defender before the ball rolled inside the goal, 2-0.
A minute before the breather, Sporting Clube’s skipper Dattaraj Gaonkar snatched the ball from Sherwin Abranches feet and after darting inside the 18-yard box placed the ball coolly inside the net, 3-0.
Hardly had the spectators taken the seats inside the stadium, on crossing over, Sporting Clube pumped in their fourth goal through Doyal Alves header, 4-0.
Content with the four goals lead, Sporting Clube coach Armando Colaco brought four changes from the substitution bench. Pax on Nagoa came with some fine moves and managed to pull a goal through Beneston Baretto in the 79th minute from inside the 18-yard box, 4-1.
In the added time, Salcete side almost netted their second goal but Nickson Castanha’s free-kick was fisted for a corner by Sporting Clube keeper Abhimanyu.
(Taken from O HERALDO – https://www.heraldgoa.in/Sports/Sporting-Clube-de-Goa-take-it-easy-against-Pax-of-Nagoa-SC/224971 )
