I-League: Sporting pip Bharat FC 2-0 in I-League

Sporting Clube de Goa kept their chances of survival alive after recording a 2-0 victory over Bharat FC in a Hero I-League football encounter at the Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.

The win, courtesy goals in either half from Brandon Fernandes (42nd minute) and Prathesh Shirodkar (51st minute), saw Sporting rise from the bottom of the pool above Bharat with 14 points from 16 matches.

But they are still in the relegation zone as Bharat, newcomers in the league, are free from relegation for three years.

It was Bharat, however, who could have surged ahead in the 11th minute if not for the goalpost which saved a header from Subhash Singh before Portuguese defender Miguel Garcia cleared it on the goal line.

Brandon was Sporting's most influential player and created plenty of problems for the rival defenders. He went close three times, including one close range effort. But the player who has been on trials with English Premier League (EPL) clubs, proved his class in the 42nd minute when he converted from a free kick, just outside the box.

Sporting made it 2-0 in the 51st minute with Prathesh Shirodkar scoring a brilliant goal. He collected a ball from Chandrashekar Chinta from just outside the box and then weaved his way past two Bharat defenders before coolly slamming the ball into the top of the net.

Bharat tried hard but failed to stage a comeback as a resilient Sporting backline held strong till the final whistle.

The visitors are now at the bottom of the league table.