By I-League Media
GOA: Sporting Clube de Goa were left frustrated by DSK Shivajians F.C. after the debutants saw some late upsurge in attack from the hosts, to finish the game 0-0.
Mateus Costa made two changes to his starting XI from the side that lost 3-1 against East Bengal; Rowlin Borges came in for Cajetan Fernandes, where as Glen Martins came in for Mauvin Borges.
The game started with early end-to-end football, as chances came in plenty for both sides. Indrajeet Chougule had the first chance for DSK after the winger skipped past his marker on the right to cut onto his left foot, but his curler went just wide of Arindam Bhattachrya’s goal.
Subrata Paul’s service were called upon for by Odafa Okolie in the 10th minute, as the striker bullied past his marker in the box and shot straight at the DSK goalkeeper, only to be saved with ease.
Mohammad Rafi got his head to a DSK corner with ease, but his header was way off the mark. He was unmarked in the box and could have done better.
Chances were rare and few towards the end of the first half, but the game was about to come to life into the second interval.
It seemed almost as though both sides decided to turn up the ante in the second half, with the second half beginning with more vigor and dynamism.
Indrajit was at the thick of things for DSK in the second half, with the youngster nearly scoring from 35 yards out, after a well taken attempt forced a gallant save from Arindam.
Rowlin Borges had a one-on-one chance against Subrata Paul in the 76th minute but the latter won the dual. Odafa set the medio up with a well paced through ball in a counter-attacking move, but Rowlin could not put the ball past Paul’s stretched right leg.
There was plenty of drama in the end as Loveday’s header from a corner seemed to have crossed the line, but television replays suggested that it was a tough goal to hand to Sporting.
DSK had their heart in their mouth towards the end as Subrata Paul went down and looked to be in serious pain after colliding with Odafa Okolie. He insisted on finishing the game and did the same.
Zohib Amiri was booked in extra time (90+5) for a rash challenge and that was the only caution issued by the referee during the game.
There were plenty of positives for Derrick Pereira’s side as the scoreline ended at 0-0, but plenty of thinking to do for Mateus Costa’s Sporting.
