HASC stun Sporting Clube De Goa with 2-1 win

Bangalore, Feb 18 (UNI) Powered by a brilliant brace by skipper Xavier Vijay Kumar, promotees Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club (HASC) shocked fancied Sporting Clube De Goa with a 2-1 win in the fifth round clash of the 11th National Football League for ONGC Cup at BDFA Stadium here today.

HASC tasted their first win in the competition to take their points tally to five from as many matches, while Clube De Goa remained at four points.

The Goans have to blame themselves as they had taken a win for granted but failed to go all out in the first half which proved to be their undoing. Despite regrouping well in the latter half and finding the equaliser in the 70th minute, they failed to hold on with Xavier shooting home the winner eight minutes from time. HASC promoted into the premier league this year, fought hard, defended bravely and grabbed the few chances that came their way to emerge worthy winners.

A surprisingly tardy challenge from the Goan side helped HASC draw the first blood in the 45th minute with Xavier scoring off a C Prakash pass. The HASC forward shot into the box and the first timer was cleared in a clumsy manner by Clube custodian Chinta Chandrashekar. Latching on the rebound, the HASC captain tapped in the ball into the net.

Regrouping well in the latter half, sporting was bolstered by the substitution of mercurial striker Dudu Omagblmi who levelled the scores off a penalty kick in in the 82nd minute. Dudu was unnecessarily tripped by Pawan inside the area resulting in refree Shaji C Kurien of Kerala showing the dreaded spot.

However, HASC had the last laugh earning the winning goal through a brilliant counter attack. Raghu, latching on to the ball after a Dudu miss, sent a long ball to Satish, who had come in for Srikanth, and the HASC substitute raced into the rival half and sent a superb cross to unmarked Xavier just outside the Clube De Goa penalty area. The HASC captain superbly shot home the volley to bring his team's first win.

HASC defenders Pawan Kumar, Prashanth Jaggi and Raghu Singh played a gallant role in thwarting the Goan strikers.

A questionable tactic of Clube coach Clifford Chukuma who held back his most prolific striker Dudu till the second half and played a not so fit Jeremiah Ernest, paid the price for his wrong strategy.

Ernest failed utterly to play in tandem with hardworking Rodrigues Joe in the firing line. Introduction of Dudu paid off as the quicksilver Nigerian was made the life miserable for the HASC defenders right from the time he entered the field.

However, HASC custodian Balaji effected a few good saves to thwart the Clube most successful striker who has scored three goals in the league so far.

UNI