Bengaluru FC Look To Settle Scores With Sporting Clube De Goa

by Prajkta Tagelly March 5, 2016

By I-League Media

GOA: Sunday’s action in the Hero-I League will feature Sporting Clube de Goa taking on Bengaluru FC in a crunch encounter at the Fatorda Stadium.

The Flaming Oranje come into the game having drawn their last game against Mohun Bagan. The reverse fixture of Sunday’s encounter saw Sporting Clube de Goa got the better of Bengaluru FC at the Kanteerava Stadium by a margin of 2-1. An Odafa Okolie brace on either side of the half-time ensured all three points for the visiting team despite being down to ten men in the 24th minute.

Fast forward to Sunday it’ll be a different affair all together at the Fatorda Stadium. Bengaluru FC have settled down and have been extremely impressive away from home. While in a stark contrast, Sporting have struggled to put games to bed at the Fatorda Stadium.

Mateus Costa spoke ahead of the game and expressed his thoughts on not getting carried away by the result at the Kanteerava Stadium, “Of course, Bengaluru FC are one of the favorites for the title. It is always a challenge to play against such teams. The last game is gone and we need to put our best foot forward.”

The Flaming Oranje gaffer was frustrated at the end of their previous game and expressed his displeasure over his side failing to convert goal-scoring chances.However, the Nigerian striker Odafa Okolie will be fit for tomorrow’s game and so will Densil Theobald who is back from a spell on the sidelines.

Bengaluru FC heads into the game on the back of a 2-0 victory against Shillong Lajong. Udanta Singh scored one and set one up for Seong Young-Kim in the second half.

Ashley Westwood acknowledged Sporting’s performance at the Kanteerava Stadium in the reverse fixture in the pre-match presser. “We didn’t threaten their goal in all honesty. We had the majority of the possession as it normally is but we didn’t do enough. They had two long-range shots and scored two goals. They defended well and very the better side, as simple as that. We are on the back of our second home game, the first one being in Shillong. We know what we are up against Sporting, they should have won their previous game versus Mohun Bagan. They should have got a penalty and won it, but that didn’t happen and Mohun Bagan are top of the league. Just shows you where Sporting can be in the game,” Westwood said.

The Englishman will be without the services of the free-scoring forward, CK Vineeth and Shankar Sampangiraj who is set for a prolonged time on the sidelines after a knee injury in Shillong. The absence of the duo will hurt the Blues, especially the unavailability of the former.

With both sides desperate for a vital win at a crucial stage of the tournament, entertainment is guaranteed for football fans across the country.

The game kicks off at 04:30 hours and it’ll be telecast live on Ten Action.