MYJ began brightly, controlling possession in the opening minutes, but quickly found themselves under pressure from Sporting’s aggressive press. The breakthrough came early in the 9th minute when a misplaced pass was intercepted by Joyson Gauncar, who finished clinically to give the hosts the lead.

The game took a dramatic turn in the 33rd minute as Gauncar, the goalscorer, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, reducing Sporting to ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Goan side remained composed, managing possession effectively and limiting MYJ’s attacking threat as they carried a 1-0 lead into the break.

The second half brought further drama almost immediately. MYJ were reduced to ten men as well when substitute Tanmay was shown a straight red card moments after coming on, levelling the numbers and shifting the momentum once again.

MYJ responded positively and found the equaliser in the 65th minute. A well-delivered corner from Kwan Lewis was flicked into the net by Shravan Shetty, bringing the visitors back into the contest.

However, the parity was short-lived. Sporting regained the lead soon after through Ngangbam Singh, who produced a sharp finish at the near post to make it 2-1.

Despite late efforts from MYJ, Sporting Club de Goa held firm to secure all three points. The result strengthens their push towards the top four, while MYJ continue their difficult run as they look to turn their season around.

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It’s been a fantastic season for Sporting this season, as they emerged champions of the Goa Pro league for the sixth time in the tournament’s history. They had a tough fight with Calangute Association till the very last day of the tournament, but a massive 9-0 win over Guardian Angel SC, ensured Sporting would lift the trophy.

Alton’s defensive duties helped Sporting to be the only team unbeaten in the league. They played 11 games, one against each opponent and secured 23 points with six wins and five draws. These six wins came against the Youth club of Manora, Vasco SC, Panjim Footballers, Churchill Brothers, Velsao SCC and Guardian Angel SC.

Talking about what he does to deliver each season, Alton said, “Personally, I focused on improving my skill sets, delivering higher performance, and syncing my skills to the needs of the team. As they say, be good at everything and great at something. I think each one of us is very different, yet together, we are a team, and our only aim was to lift the trophy.”

As a team, Sporting was a delight to watch; they were too good to handle. The goal-scoring rate of this team was at a different level; they netted the ball 30 times and kept a clean sheet in seven games! “This season was one of its kind; the training sessions were more intense, we were more focused towards our goal than anything and working in sync at the same time. I think all these things helped us to score more and defend well.”

Alton specially thanked his coach Mr Savio who had complete faith in him and his team. Also, the coach was very supportive and told the team from day one that they are going to win the title.

He also mentioned beloved Mr Peter Vaz, Sporting’s former owner, who passed away in December last year. “It was a tough time for us. We miss him a lot and dedicate this victory to him. I hope his blessings will always be with us, and we can keep performing well for him.”

All the games were organised in Goa, considering the COVID protocols. But even after that, it affects the player’s mentality. The protocols drain the athletes physically and emotionally because of the constant restrictions and tests. Alton’s views were optimistic, “The team and I echoed the belief that prevention is better than cure, be safe than sorry. Yes, there were challenges, constant tests, everyone was scared at one point, but I think we overcame each of these for the greater good of football” he opined.

Alton resembles talent, hard-work and perseverance, yet his humble and jolly nature is what makes him an ideal leader. His qualities are not just limited to defending, he can also adapt himself as a defensive and attacking midfielder. When asked what his next target would be, “focus on winning the next season” came the captain’s instant reply.

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They finished the tournament with 23 points, where they featured in 11 games and registered six wins and five draws. Throughout the tournament, Sporting was the only club to be unbeaten. Dempo SC finished second and Calangute Associate behind them. 

Sporting’s last match on Friday was total domination over the Guardian Angel SC as they defeated them 9-0. Midfielder Marcus Mascarenhas scored a hattrick in the match and became the top scorer for the side with eight goals. 

The team dedicated their win to Mr Peter Vaz, Sporting’s former owner, who passed away last year in December. 

“Sporting club has been my second home, always a treat to play for this club. The management, coaches and teammates are extremely supportive. We missed our die-hard fans and especially Mr Peter Vaz, we miss him a lot, we dedicate the victory to him, and I hope his blessings will always be with us”, said captain Alton Vaz.

Sporting has been in exceptional form this season. The captain mentioned that our motto was simple, “Teamwork is dream work”, and told how every player wanted to win the tournament badly. “According to me, what we did differently than others which made us win the title was extreme dedication, intense practice, strategic alignments and letting the players do what they are good at.”

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“On May 17th 2016, the AIFF (All India Football Federation) called for a meeting of all stakeholders of football in India, asking for “participation in propelling Indian football forward.” Agenda papers, which form the basis for any meeting or discussion, were never circulated. The expectation was for this to be a vital first step in developing a comprehensive roadmap for improving the state of football in India.

At this meeting a detailed proposal was presented, which is heavily biased against the I-League and its clubs. Not only does it relegate the I-League to a second tier league, but also does away with promotion, thereby replacing merit with a franchisee fee as the primary criteria for participating in the top league,” the goan clubs said in a statement.

Recently, AIFF (All India Football Federation) held a meeting to plan the future of Indian football where the possibility of the merger between ISL (Indian Super League) and I-league were talked upon. Majority of the Indian football fans voiced their concerned over this possible merger where I-league clubs were reportedly sent to the second tier of Indian football.

It seems that the fans are not the only ones who are raising their voice over this decision as couple of I-league clubs also stated their unhappiness.

“The ISL, hitherto termed as only a tournament by the AIFF, would leapfrog the I-League to become the nation’s top league, with no relegation. This was shocking and disheartening, especially considering the repeated claims made by representatives of AIFF and FIFA that the I-League was the premier league competition in the country.

Subsequently, this presentation was circulated and comments and suggestions were asked for. A fresh start, taking all stakeholders into confidence, was requested in order to come up with a comprehensive re-formulated plan via a transparent and democratic process. These suggestions were sent over a month ago by multiple stakeholders. The lack of response from the AIFF is telling, and makes it clear that the fate of the world’s most popular sport in the world’s second most populous nation would be decided unilaterally.

We therefore have no option but to believe that the AIFF will enforce the May 17th proposal, which would promote the ISL to the nation’s premier tournament with a “pay to play” franchisee model with no promotion or relegation.  Furthermore, it guarantees the winner of the ISL representation at the AFC level, with the other available spot going to the winner of a tournament that again is heavily skewed in favour of ISL franchisees.

Therefore, rather than waiting for another year to face the inevitable, Salgaocar Football Club and Sporting Clube de Goa have decided to take the painful decision to withdraw from the forthcoming edition of the I-League. However, it must be noted that their commitment to the sport of football will not waver, the efforts towards youth development will continue with ever increasing vigour, and their dedication towards the improvement of football in Goa remains resolute,” the official website of Sporting Goa stated.

Sporting Goa and Salgaocar has became the eighth and ninth club respectfully to withdraw from the I-league. Mahindra United (2010), JCT Football Club (2011), Viva Kerala (2012), Pailan Arrows (2013), Pune FC (2015), Royal Wahindoh (2015) and Bharat FC (2015) were the first seven clubs to raise their concerns on I-league before withdrawing.

Ironically, AIFF’s new road-map is actually diverting I-league clubs to an off-road path.

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The home-side seemed set to make most of the home advantage count with the early exchanges in and around the Sporting Goa’s final-third area. But it was the visitors who had the first real chance to have a site at goal 5 minutes into the game; a Nicholas Fernandes cross down the left-flank was met by Densill Theobald inside the 18 yard area, but the latter’s mistimed effort left Sporting Goa is dismay with their finest opportunity of the first-half going wide of the right-hand post.

The two sides failed to produce noticeable goal-scoring opportunities for a majority of the first-half, finding no time and space in the final-third areas. With much of the game played I’m the midfield, a large proportion of the chances in the first-45 minutes of play came through set pieces or long-ball down the vacant flanks.

Sporting Goa came agonizingly close to an opener 6 minutes before half-time via Rowllin Borges’ free-kick from outside the 18-yard-box, but Kunal Sawant reacted in-time to apply a finger-tip save to avoid the Sporting Goa number 23.

Mumbai F.C. replied with a similar chance from a Steven Dias free-kick, which was convincingly parried-away by Arimdam Bhattacharya in the visitor’s goal. The first-half displayed a lack luster of intent and commitment from the two attacking sets on the field, who failed to match their on-paper expectations with neither side committing to take-on the other and invite pressure.

Mumbai F.C. began and concluded the remaining half of the game in similar fashion – time on the ball, but no real pressure created with it, which ultimately cost the home team with a defeat, and a tougher away-leg in three days’ time.

The flow of the game didn’t create any potential chance of an opening goal, but only added frustration in the two camps. Mumbai F.C. produced a better performance as the game matured into its final stages, where the hosts came closest, when a Clifford Miranda cross met a Steven Dias first-time hit volley, equally matched by a match-winning stop by Arindam Bhattacharya; Eric Brown followed-up and was denied again by the stretching Sporting Goa goalkeeper.

As the match was about to end in stalemate, a darting run in the 91st from second-half substitute Victorino Fernandes was met an onrushing Sumeet Passi, who put his header into the goal to give his side a 1-0 lead and a precious away-goal to take into the second-leg.

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