Defending champions Sporting Clube de Goa kicked off their Goa Professional League (GPL) campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Churchill Brothers on Monday at Duler Stadium, Mapusa.
In a tightly contested encounter, a late strike from Kunal Kundaikar, aided by a deflection off Vikram Venkatachalam, secured all three points for Sporting, who began their title defense in style. Churchill Brothers had taken the lead just before halftime through Jobern Cardozo, but Sporting’s dominance in the second half turned the game around.
Churchill Brothers struck first in the 44th minute when Lunminlen Haokip threaded a precise pass to Cardozo, who calmly slotted home from inside the box, giving his side the advantage heading into the break.
Sporting Clube de Goa, however, emerged revitalised in the second half, driven by a tireless performance from captain Dattaraj, who controlled the midfield and dictated the tempo of the game. His leadership was crucial as Sporting launched wave after wave of attacks on the Churchill goal.
The introduction of Joyson Gauncar as a second-half substitute added an extra dynamic to Sporting’s play, further tipping the balance in their favor. Gauncar’s energy and creativity opened up new avenues in attack, keeping Churchill’s defense under constant pressure.
Sporting’s relentless pursuit of an equaliser paid off in the 58th minute when Kundaikar’s cross unexpectedly found its way into the net, catching the Churchill defense off guard. The momentum was firmly with Sporting as they continued to dominate, with shots flying in from all sides, testing the Churchill goalkeeper on multiple occasions.
The match took a decisive turn when Churchill’s Trijoy Dias was shown a second yellow card for a reckless challenge, reducing his team to 10 men in the 70th minute. Sporting seized the opportunity, pressing relentlessly in search of a winner.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 89th minute when Kundaikar unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box. A slight deflection off Venkatachalam wrong-footed the Churchill goalkeeper, sealing a dramatic 2-1 win for Sporting Clube de Goa.
