Lucky Sporting muster one point

Sporting Clube de Goa were lucky to muster one point as their I-League season opener against Mumbai FC ended in a 1-1 draw at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi on Saturday.

John Coutinho put the home side, Mumbai FC, ahead in the 44th minute, while substitute Ogba Kalu Nnanna converted a penalty for Sporting in the 77th minute.

“We are lucky to get this one point,” said Oscar Bruzon Barreras, head coach of Sporting.

It was not just the strike force of Sporting which failed to deliver, but even the goal post came to the rescue for Khalid Jamil coached side, as Jerry Boima Karpeh’s both attempts hit the cross bar.

“They played well, but what matters most is scoring, which they did not,” said Jamil. “We are happy to have one point, as Sporting are a better team.”

Mumbai FC made the first positive move, but Countinho’s try sailed over the bar. And incidentally this was the only move wherein the Mumbai FC were in the Goan citadel.

Jerry Boima Karpeh led the Goan attack, but came up short against the Mathew Gonsalves led defence.

Stopwatch
Mohammedan Sporting Club 1 (Josimar 11) lost to Pune 3 (R Fabiani 16, 76,J Meyer 52); Churchill Brothers 0 lost to Salgaocar 1 (D Duffy 41); Mumbai 1 (J Coutinho 44) drew Sporting Goa 1 (O Kalu 77)

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