Subhashish converts from the spot as Sporting knock Mumbai out of Fed Cup on a 2-0 aggregate
SPORTING CLUBE DE GOA advanced to the semi-finals of Federation Cup after beating Mumbai FC 1-0 (2-0 aggregate) at the Fatorda Stadium. Last week, the Goan outfit had defeated Mumbai FC after Sumeet Passi netted a goal at the Cooperage Stadium.
Early into the game, Mateus Costa’s men looked subdued, looking to make the most of counter attacks. The Mumbai side kept the ball and piled forward but were unable to surge into the final third. Sporting Clube de Goa could have scored within 8 minutes but Minchon Son missed an absolute sitter five yards from the goal line.
The Mumbai FC keeper Kunal Sawant’s parried the ball as it hit the post, failing to judge the flight on free kick swung by Rowllin. Pratik Chowdhary was left with a warning, conceded a free kick 25 yards out. Pratesh Shirodkar tried to make up for teammate’s early miss, firing a bullet to which Kunal made a full length dive to keep out.
Steven Dias made a great attempt to curl in the free-kick but his shot sailed just over the crossbar after Jayesh Rane was brought down on the right side of the pitch.
The clearest chance for the Goan side fell, 25 minutes into the game, as Passi missed to score in an open net after Mumbai defender Anwar failed to block a low cross sent in from Thakur.
Sporting had a great chance to take lead but Rowllin Borges’ shot landed straight into the hands of the keeper. Misery continued for Sporting as Pratesh set Passi up with a wonderful pass on a counter attack, but the striker missed yet again trying to chip over the keeper.
Close to conclusion of the first half, Rowling Borges took a curling free kick, which the Mumbai keeper Kunal barely managed to keep out.
Ashutosh Mehta was booked for simulation inside the Mumbai box, which looked like a bizarre decision from the referee, as he awarded a penalty to Sporting Clube. Subhashish Bose converted from the spot sending Kunal Sawant the wrong way.
A long throw in from Pratik was wasted as Arindam collected the ball inside the box. Sporting made the first change of the match bringing Nikki Chukwama for Ganesh Thakur. Mumbai used their first substitution as Jayesh Rane made way for Clifford Miranda, before running amok on the flanks, twisting the Sporting right-backs.
Sporting were awarded a corner as Nicholas’s shot from close range gets deflected over the nets. Nervous moments followed Sporting as a Sushil Singh header brushed the net after connecting a perfect ball by Steven Dias.
In the dying minutes, Mumbai coach Khalid Jamil tried his final change hoping to turn the tables, bringing in Shilton for Eric Brown. A dangerous header from Pratik Chowdhary saw Arindam easily grabbing the ball.
Mumbai’s final act of the evening ended when Pratik headed a wonderfully whipped in cross by Steven Dias. Unable to keep calm, Ashutosh got into heated argument after bringing down Pratik. Sporting did well to dig out a strong performance despite Mumbai dominating large parts of the possession. After both sides missing a plethora of chances at regular intervals, the match ended 1-0 in favour of the Goan side.
Sporting Clube de Goa will now take on Aizawl FC in the Federation Cup semi-finals, which will be held in a double leg home-away format over the next two Saturdays. As for Mumbai FC, with this loss their seasons also came to an end; with nothing much to show for other than a surge late in the league to save themselves from relegation.
