Sporting blank Bharat FC 2-0

A goal in each half saw Sporting Clube de Goa score a convincing 2-0 victory over Bharat FC in their Hero I-League match at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda here today.
A win was a must for both the teams as the two, sitting at the bottom of the table, are looking to avoid relegation.
After this victory, Sporting now have 14 points from 16 matches, while Bharat FC are languishing at the bottom with 12 points from 15 matches.
Sporting Clube de Goa had a slow start but once they got into the groove, they started dictating terms. Creating numerous chances, especially in the second half, Sporting scored through Brandon Fernandes (42nd minute) and Pratesh Shirodkar (51st).

Bharat FC, who made four changes from their last match, had a bright start, moving the ball around well. But were unlucky not to find the net in the 11th minute when Subash Singh header off Robert Francis cross from the right hit the post, and the rebound was latter cleared by defender Miguel Garcia.
Sporting, too, made a change to their side, bringing in Victorino Fernandes in place of half fit Odafe Okolie.

The hosts gradually took control over the proceedings and came close to scoring 10 minutes later when a move on the right saw Clemente Joseph sending a deep cross into the box for Victorino, who passed it to better place Anthony Wolfe but his shot went over the bar.

However, Fernandes, who looked in subline form, troubled the Bharat FC goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya from time to time. Fernandes hit long range shots but Bhattacharya did well to punch the ball over the bar.
But Fernandes finally managed to execute a free kick from top of the box that found the far corner of the net in the 42nd minute to help Sporting take a 1-0 lead at half time.
In the second half also, Sporting continued to have an upper hand.
Moving to the left, defender Chandrashekar Chinta passed the ball to Pratesh Shirodkar, who sprinted down and dogged defender Dharmaraj Ravanan and Robert Francis before slamming the ball past keeper Bhattacharya into the net in the 51st minute to extend Sporting's lead.

Three minutes later, Sporting could have swelled the lead further but an alert Bhattacharya did well to dive and grab the ball off Fernandes' pass.
The visitors tried to create some scoring chances with a couple of moves but found the going tough against a steady rival defence.