Sporting pips East Bengal by solitary goal

Margao, Jan 5 (UNI) A 53rd minute goal by Ghana's Adjei Lawrence guided Sporting Club de Goa edge out former champions East Bengal by 1-0 and register their second consecutive win in the first leg of ONGC I-League championship played at the Nehru Stadium Fatorda here today.

The lone goal came in the second half through Adjei Lawrence off a well-measured pass from Danzil Franco.

With this win, Sporting collected 9 points from two wins and three draws out of 9 outings. East Bengal, who suffered the second consecutive defeat, remained on the same 7 points from as many matches.

Sporting's Danzil Franco, who performed well today, was later adjudged man of the match.

Sporting Club de Goa, who improved their showing today, could have won by a much bigger margin had they converted the advantages into goals especially in the first half. But, they faltered at the crucial junctures.

The home team came with the first good move as early as in the 8th minute, but Bengal's goalkeeper Subrata Paul brought off a fine save off a shot taken by Elijah.

Then, in the 12th minute, Sporting's Mickky Fernandes, after collecting a pass from Mohammad Gafari, unleashed a shot which missed the mark by a whisker.

Sporting were further frustrated in the 30th minute of the first half when Elijah's power-packed shot hit the right goal-post and rebounded into play. It was off a good pass from Wilton Gomes.

Barring the lone goal in favour of Sporting Club de Goa, there was not much of action in the second half.

East Bengal has put up a poor show in the championship till the end of the 9th round.

UNI SRN MAZ RAR HT1928