Md Sporting and Vasco fight in bottom ranks

Kolkata, Nov 13 (UNI) Relegation threats continued to haunt within first year of their promotion to the Indian League as hosts Mohameddan Sporting and visiting Vasco SC face each other in the eighth round at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here tomorrow.

Sitting at the bottom, Vasco, who are yet to taste a win in this second edition of the ONGC's countrywide league, have picked only two points from seven games, and might find a tough fight ahead of them from any in-form goal getter.

Coach Elvis Goes has tried his all resources, but it only resulted in five defeats and two draws in last seven games with two goals in favour and twelve against. The two points came from 0-0 with JCT and 1-1 in last encoutner with Mumbai FC, another promotee.

Vasco were drifted by 16 points from topper Sporting Clube de Goa's 18.

Vasco's last visit to the city was eventful for former champion East Bengal as the latter etched their second win 0-2 after two back to back defeats.

Despite having a class player Ravshan Teshabaev, Vasco, many predicted, have a doomed future if they did not fight back right now.

The next four games meant the end of first leg of the 12-team championship and picking up points right now for Vasco would be the only talisman to arrest them from falling.

The circumstances are very similar on the Md Sporting side also.

They are just one step ahead of Vasco in the league table with six points after the seventh round ended last week.

Banking on fitness and mood of two foreigners, Nigerian Mike Okoro, who was given captaincy after first choice goalkeeper Nashim Akhtar was stripped on disciplinarian ground, and Liberian Theodore Sunday, who is now prone to injury for being overplayed.

Coach Shabbir Ali has no option but to depend on the two Africans as experimenting without them proved dangerous for the side.

Md Sporting so far scored three goals and conceded eight with a win over Mahindra United 1-0, three draws and as many defeats.

Any team win tomorrw, the full points will give them a cushion as Mahindra United stood at tenth with seven points and United SC with eight points, or a draw at the YBK would cause their position to remain at bottom, an imminent threat for relegation.

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