I-League 2015/16 - Loveday's thunderbolt gives Sporting their first win
Sporting Clube de Goa conjured up their first three points of the season, with a crucial 2-0 win over Aizawl FC in Mizoram. The Goan club managed to weather the storm of Aizawl's relentless attack in the second half, with Loveday Enyinnaya producing an all-round performance for the visitors.
Aizawl FC XI (4-3-3): Zothanmawia, Lalramchullova, Lalruatthara, Lalchhawnkima, Ricky Lallawmawma, David Lalrinmuana, Yuta Kinowaki, Lalbiakhlua, Brandon VL Remdika, F. Lalrinpuia, Alfred Kemah Jaryan.
Sporting Goa XI (4-5-1): Arindam Bhattacharya; Joseph Clemente, Dhamaraj Ravanan, Loveday Okechukwu, Fulganco Cardoza; Glan Martins, Rowlin Borges, Densil Theobald, Nicholas Fernandes, Pratesh Shirodkar, Odafa Onyeka Okolie.
Both teams made one change each to their lineup from the last game. Aizawl FC, who won 2-0 against DSK Shivajians, replaced Albert Zohmingmawia with Lalbiakhlua, the top-scorer in the Mizoram Premier League. On the other hand, Sporting manager Mateus Costa brought in wing back Fulganco Cardozo to replace Matthew Gonsalves.
The game got off to a flying start with Sporting's Nicolas Fernandes bettering CK Vineeth's opening goal within 40 seconds of kickoff for Bengaluru last night, by giving the visitors the lead in the 16 second of the game. The goal arrived from a mistake at the back from Aizawl defender Lalruatthara, and Fernandes calmly found the back of the net, to give an early 1-0 lead to the visitors.
Aizawl looked for a quick response, but it was Sporting who doubled their lead in the 30 minute. Nigerian defender Loveday Enyinnaya scored an early contender for the goal of the season. The 26-year-old's audacious, thunderous and belter of a shot, from no less than the halfway line, nearly tore apart the net in the Aizawl goal.
Aizawl came out with a lot of positive intent in the second half, and produced some dazzling football in the attack. However, despite creating a host of chances, their finishing let them down in every move. Ricky Lallawmawma and Brandon Vanlalremdika were the pick of the players for Aizawl, and the duo constantly troubled the Sporting defence.
One of their best chances of the half arrived in the 62 minute, when Ricky and Brandon combined down the left wing, before the 21-year-old youngster delivered a perfect cross for Valpuia, who almost inexplicably headed the ball over the bar, from six yards out.
Sporting created few chances on the counter-attacks as well, but failed to capitalize on any of them. The Goan club, however, did just enough to come away with all three points. Mateus Costa will be pleased with the resolve they showed in defence in the second half, and will hope that this result is not just a flash in the pan, after what has been a disappointing start to their season.