By Sporting Clube de Goa Media

GOA: Sporting came from behind to beat Dempo SC, 2–1 at Duler Stadium in a Goa Pro League encounter on Friday. Beevan D’mello opened the score board for Dempo SC while Ganesh Thakur scored a brace for Sporting. With this win Sporting consolidate their pole position with 32 points.

The initial phase of first half was dominated by Dempo SC as Beevan D’mello and Steven Fernandes combined well in the left causing a few problems for the Sporting defense. They both together created at least 3 chances in within the first 10 minutes. The third one however paid off as they managed to convert the same. A long throw in from the corner flag was collected by Aniston Fernandes who send in a promising cross to Steven Fernandes who further set up Beevan D’mello to score with a low right footed shot inside a thickly populated Sporting box.

After conceding the goal Sporting Clube shift gears and took the attack on to Dempo half. Some promising moves from Odafa Okolie and Ganesh Thakur tested Tyson Caiado a couple of times. Sporting finally managed to break down the Dempo defense in the 30^th minute as a dangerous cross from Jovel Martins on the right flank was perfectly read by Ganesh Thakur as the latter calmly tapped home the equalizer for The Flaming Oranje.

Dempo had another splendid opportunity as the Golden Eagles saw a powerful shot from Hayden Fernandes being denied by the wood work.

The final 10 minutes of first half belonged totally to Sporting, as they managed to completely dominate the midfield play. The Dempo defense finally succumbed to the intense pressure from Sporting forwards as they failed to mark the man in form Ganesh Thakur who collected a wonderful ball from Odafa Okolie dribbling past a defender and the keeper who came forward to close in putting Sporting ahead in the 42^nd minute.

The second half was relatively unruffled as either team failed to pull out any real threat. The best opportunity of second half came in at the 82^nd minute as Beevan D’mello came one on one against Kamaljit Singh but fired a weak shot straight into the hands of the latter. Likewise Sporting came close to extending their lead soon as their striker Odafa Okolie miss fired a fine opportunity from within the box.

Final 4 minutes saw a depleated Dempo SC reduced to 10 men as Shallum Peries of Dempo SC made a reckless tackle on Alber Gonsalves of Sporting; the former collected his second yellow resulting in referee signalling his marching order.

Speaking to the media, Sporting skipper Odafa Okolie said,“Both teams played well, we had our chances and made the most of it. We are working hard in the training and giving our 100% so the result is fruitful.”

The head coach of Sporting Mathew Costa said,“At this moment 3 points is all that matters, we are just 3 matches away from the title and I am glad the team is playing as a unit. We all understand the importance of this points as everyone of it counts.”