Sporting Clube de Goa U-21 managed to squeeze past DSK Shivajians U-21 3-2 in a Bandodkar Gold Trophy Football Tournament Group B match played at Duler Stadium on Saturday. With today’s win Sporting made it to the semis with six points, to join Dempo SC U-21 from the group.

The teams were locked in a 1-1 draw at the breather with Jesse Ralte (40′) giving DSK the lead, while Harshad Naik (45′) equalized for Sporting. In the 15th minute DSK’s Prasanth K had a very good attempt from the left flank which sailed just over the cross bar. Couple of minutes later Prasanth sent a perfect cross to well positioned Nikhil Mali whose header went into the waiting hands of Sporting keeper Sherwin Da Cunha.

Sporting got their acts together and had close attempts at the rival goal through striker Ndidi Chukwuma, Harshad Naik and Schubert D’Costa but failed to get into the goal. In the 30th minute another chance went a begging for Sporting as Harshad Naik failed to keep his header into the goal off a Ndidi cross. DSK’s Jesse Ralte got hold to a ball just near the edge of the box sent a blistering shot which missed the target narrowly. However in the 40th minute Jesse Ralte controlled a pass from K. Lalthathanga and placed the ball past the onrushing Sporting keeper Sherwin to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Sporting leveled termed just a minute before the breather when Jesmon Soares sent an intelligent pass to overlapping Harshad Naik who slammed it into the goal to make it 1-1.

In the very first minute on crossing over Sporting’s Avrhishto Fernandes was brought down just inside the penalty box by Rohit Kumar prompting referee Prasad Surlekar to point to the dreaded spot. However Jesmon Soares shot out from the penalty spot.

While Sporting failed to score, at the other end in the 59th minute DSK’s Rohit Kumar leapt high above the sporting defenders to head the ball into the goal off a cross from Vanlalremkima.

In the 68th minute Sporting was awarded another penalty after Vanlalremkima came with a reckless tackle on Sporting’s Sarineo Fernandes. This time Ndidi Chukwuma shouldered the responsibility to take the spot kick and he made no mistake to level terms.

Hardly had the DSK players digested the goal, a fine cross by Sarineo Fernandes in the very next minute found Harshad Naik left unmarked who connected his shot with a powerful right footer to give his side a 3-2 lead.

In the 80th minute Sporting’s Clive Miranda and DSK’s Lalliansanga were sent off for fighting. Referee Prasad also sent Sporting’s Manager Anthony Francis Vaz to the stands for uttering abusive language.

DSK almost equalized in the 85th minute when Rohit Kumar saw his header rebounded off the top corner of the goal. Two minutes later frustration was seen by Rohit Kumar as he came with a dangerous tackle on Sporting’s Avrhisto Fernandes for which he was sent off by the referee.

Harshad Naik of Sporting Clube de Goa received the Man of the Match cash prize of Rs. 5,000/- from the hands of GFA Executive Member Gajanand Kerkar.

(Report & Photo courtesy Goa Football Association Press Release)