Panaji: A dramatic late volley from Naocha Singh breathed new life into Sporting Clube de Goa's campaign as they edged past MYJ-GMSC 2-1 in the I-League 2 at Atal Stadium in Bambolim on Saturday. The victory was crucial for Sporting to remain within touching distance of the top two teams.
Early Lead and Red Card Shock
Joyson Gaoncar's early strike gave Sporting a perfect start in their quest for three points. However, the former I-League regulars suffered a blow when Joyson was sent off in the 33rd minute for a second bookable offence. Despite being a man down, Sporting stayed compact and carried their lead into halftime.
Second Half Drama
At the start of the second half, the teams were level on players as MYJ-GMSC's Tanmay Dayanand was shown a red card just three seconds after the restart for charging into Dattaraj Gaonkar. This left both sides with 10 players on the field, creating plenty of space and pushing from both ends. MYJ-GMSC equalised through substitute Shravan Shetty in the 65th minute, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Naocha's Winning Strike
With just six minutes left on the clock, Naocha Singh volleyed home the winner from inside the box, sparking celebrations among the home crowd. The goal came from a perfect cross by Sanson Fernandes, and Naocha's acrobatic finish delighted the fans. The win took Sporting to third place on the table, just a point behind second-placed United SC, whom they lost to in the opener. Delhi FC lead with 13 points and a game in hand.
Upcoming Fixtures
Sporting's remaining matches are against FC Bengaluru United (away, May 8) and FC Bengaluru (home, May 15). The top two teams will qualify for the Indian Football League (IFL), the second tier of Indian football's club competition.
