~They hold Dempo SC to a goalless draw to finish top of the table with 46 points
Panaji, May 3– Sporting Clube de Goa clinched the Goa Professional League title second time in a row, following their goalless draw against Dempo Sports Club at the Ella ground on Friday.
With the draw, SC Goa finished top of the table with 46 points from 20 matches, while Dempo SC finished second with 45 points from the same. SC Goa came close to breaking the deadlock when Leran Dias delivered a cross from the right flank into the box, but it flashed across the face of goal with no teammate on hand to apply the finishing touch.
Dempo SC pressed with intensity and controlled the midfield exchanges for large spells. However, the game turned fiery when Sporting Clube’s Naocha and Dempo’s Laximanrao Rane were both shown straight red cards. In a heated altercation, Naocha appeared to land a punch on Rane, who retaliated, prompting the referee to send both players off and reduce each side ten men.
At the other end, Dempo’s Salgeo Dias was a constant threat down the left flank, dancing past defenders and cutting into the box. He fired in a dangerous low cross, but a timely clearance from a Sporting Clube defender kept the scores level going into halftime.
SC Goa stepped up their attacking intensity in the second half, with head coach Armando Colaco introducing Selwyn and Vikram to add fresh impetus. In response, Dempo coach Remus Gomes brought on Asmon in a bid to regain control in midfield and tilt the momentum his side’s way. Moments later, Sporting Clube goalkeeper Siddharth Rana was shown a yellow card for time-wasting as he delayed a goal-kick restart. Dempo SCcontinued to push for a breakthrough, with Topon Minj delivering a sharp cross from the right, only to see it cleared by a resolute Sporting Clube defense.
Dempo SC came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock, but SCG goalkeeper Siddharth Rana proved up to the task. Nestor Dias threaded a pass to Arnold Oliveira, who quickly laid it back into Nestor’s path inside the box. Nestor took a deft touch before unleashing a powerful strike, only to be denied by a sharp reflex save from Rana, who preserved SC Goa’s clean sheet with a superb outstretched save, ensuring the match ended goalless and securing the title for Sporting Clube de Goa.
COACH TALKS
“The boys played exceptionally well throughout the league. It’s disheartening, I know. We needed a victory today, but sometimes this is football. We gave everything from day one to the last, and while finishing just one point behind is tough, we have to be stronger next season. We were 12 points behind at one point and closed the gap to just two. We’ll come back better, stronger and fitter next year and aim for the title” says Coach Remus Gomes of Dempo SC.
-Remus Gomes, Coach Dempo SC
“It’s a tremendous achievement for them. Playing four games in five days is no easy feat, especially with matches every alternate day. After competing in the third division league across various locations, it’s really difficult. But somehow they stood strong and earned the point we needed to become the champions. I truly salute them and dedicate this trophy to them. This title is for all the players who have worked hard from the beginning until now. I’m incredibly proud of them”
-Armando Colaco, Head Coach, Sporting Clube de Goa
“Back-to-back champions. The words speak for themselves-but the journey behind them speaks louder. To defend a title is never easy. We are building a movement. And this title- the second in many years-is only the latest chapter. Next season, we will get even better. I am pretty sure the team will work hard for the third title and more importantly work towards I-League qualification”
-Natalina Vaz, President, Sporting Clube de Goa
