Panaji, March 20- Sporting Clube de Goa maintained their unbeaten run at home with a 1-1 draw against Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC) at Bambolim Athletics Stadium on Thursday.
As a result, Sporting Clube de Goa move to 19 points from eleven matches, while DHFC increase their tally to 24 points from ten matches.
Sporting Clube de Goa’s captain, Dattaraj Gaonkar fired in the equalizer for Sporting Clube de Goa, leveling the score after Joyner Lourenco’s own goal put DHFC ahead.
Sporting lined up with Abhimanyu Singh in goal, supported by defenders Kunal Kundaikar, Sairuat Kima, Joyner Lourenco and Myron Fernandes. The midfield saw Samuel Costa, Naocha Singh, Dattaraj Gaonkar and Sushil Meitei dictating play while Doyal Alves and Ronaldo Oliveira led the attack. The substitutes’ bench featured Rana (GK), Dhiraj, Joel, Biswa, Joyson G, Givson, Rohan, Selwyn, Doyal, Ivon and Semboi.
Sporting Clube conceded early in the game when a brilliantly executed short corner took a strong deflection off Joyner Lourenco and went into the own net.
Sporting had a chance to equalise when Dattaraj set up Ronaldo, but the last named fired his shot over the bar. Later Naocha set up a beautiful pass at the face of the DHFC goal, but no Sporting players were inside the box. However at the half hour mark, Kunal set in a precise cross in the area to Dattaraj, who controlled the ball and placed his shot past the keeper, 1-1.
Sporting Clube’s Abhimanyu produced a fine save just before the break to deny DHFC Naro. Abhimanyu came with a fine save to deny DHFC’s Jobby and defensively Myron stood tall for Sporting as the scores remained level at the break.
In the 72nd minute DHFC were reduced to 10 men after Robilal Mandi was shown his second yellow following his tackle on Biswa. Substitute Haokip had a couple of chances for Sporting but both his attempts were easily collected by the keeper.
Later in the stoppage time, Sporting had the best chance when Joyson Gauncar was set through on goal, but his shot from the narrow angle was straight to the keeper.
