Pune: Sporting Clube de Goa outplayed Air India 2-0 and with the win moved to 37 points from 23 matches while Air India stay on 28 points from 23 matches in the I-League.
Anthony D’Souza made the difference between the two teams scoring a brace. Anthony scored the first goal in the 75th minute and then sealed it for his team in injury time. Sporting Clube de Goa who adopted a defensive approach for most part of the game made the most of the opportunities that came their way.
A restless striker James Moga created quite a few opportunities, but it was finally in the 75th minute when he moved from the right with Mackroy Peixote and Dawson Fernandes in tow that Sporting Clube spilt the Air India defence. Anthony D’Souza pounced on the chance and let the ball find the back of the net to give Sporting the much needed goal.
Earlier, Air India showed more urgency to control the pace of the match in the first half. Soon after the start, the home team earned back-to-back free-kicks in a space of five minutes, but failed to convert them.
Manandeep Singh’s try from 30 yards flew just inches away from the crosspiece in the eighth minute and then Royston D’Souza’s free-kick in the 13th minute saw Manjit Singh trying to head but it didn’t pay dividends.
By Indian Sports News Network
