Mahindra pips Sporting club de Goa by 1-0, moves at the top.

Margao, Apr 28 (UNI) A first half injury minute goal by Medio S. Venkatesh was enough for title aspirant Mahindra United Mumbai to get better of spirited Sporting Club de Goa by 1-0 to climb to the top of the ladder in the second leg of the ONGC Cup National Football League Championship match being played here at Nehru stadium Fatorda under floodlight today.

The jeepmen avenged the 0-1 defeat they suffered in the first leg.

Mahindra with this win jumped on to the top of the table with 29 points registering 9 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses from 13 outings.

East Bengal were relegated to second spot with 28 points from 14 outings.

Sporting Club de Goa remained on same 5th spot with 19 points from 12 outings.

Mahindra could have romped home with much bigger margin had they utilised the chances before them especially in the first half.

They attacked fluently but faultered at the crucial juncture.

The jeepmen came up with a first good move as early as in the 9th minute with a move initiated by Stevan Dias who gave a well measured pass to Yakubu Yusif, whose pile driver from close range hit the Sporting goalkeeper Luis Barreto's leg and deflected back into play. Mahindra missed a golden chance to move ahead.

Four minutes later, Brazilian ace-striker Jose Rameraz Barreto header missed the mark narrowly again from a pass from Stevan Dias.

After this, Sporting took over with Philip Gomes solo ball-play, unleashed a long ranger which was smartly saved by Jeepmen goalkeeper Subhash Roy Chawdhury.

The home team had another chance to surge ahead in the 18th minute when Dudu Omagbhemi after collecting a pass from Edeh Chidi took a full-blooded shot which hit one of the rival defender and went for an abortive corner.

Mahindra who had more possession of the ball in the first half, came up with two more good moves in the 27th and 41st minute but on both occasion were wasted by S.Venkatesh.

Into the injury minutes of the first half Mahindra shot into the lead through S. Venkatesh. The goal was a result of combined move.

A Yakubu pass to Sushant Mathew, who in quick sucession switched the ball to better placed Venkatesh who shot into the net. Venkatesh made amends for his earlier lapse. (1-0).

After the change over, Sporting played with renewed vigour and made an attempt in the 50th minute but Joseph Pereira's long ranger sailed over the bar.

Mahindra could have increased their lead in the 59th minute had not sporting goalkeeper Luis Barreto brought off a fine save off a shot taken by Stevan Dias.

Though, Sporting had more of the ball in the second half, made some desperate attempts for an eqaliser but Mahindra defence stood like rock and thwarted all their attempts.

Mahindra's defender Mahesh Gawali was today adjudged the man of the match for his fine performance.

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