GOA: Ogba Kalu scored a rare hat-trick as Sporting Clube de Goa turned the heat on their rivals in the second session for a 5-1 demolition at the Duler Stadium, Goa, on Saturday.
In what was billed as the battle for the second spot, Shillong Lajong took the lead through Taisuke Matsugae in the 14th minute but Sporting Clube hit back with a smart header from Ogba Kalu. The Nigerian midfielder then gave Sporting the lead in the 59th minute before Boima Karpeh extended the lead.
Kalu completed his hat-trick in the 67th minute and substitute Victorino Fernandes completed the rout in the closing stages of the match, helping Sporting Clube narrow the lead at the top to just three points.
Shillong Lajong had a hundred percent record from their two previous visits to Duler but on Saturday, up against a resurgent and attacking Sporting Clube side, they could not match up.
Shillong Lajong welcomed their captain Minchol Son back into the fold while Oscar Bruzon had to do without the services of captain Matthew Gonsalves and Prathesh Shirodkar, both suspended with four bookings.
The absence of the regular duo did not hurt Sporting’s chances as they always seemed in control of the proceedings. There was a minor flutter when Lajong capitalized on a smart counter but there was nothing that Sporting Clube could do when Matsugae chested a long ball from Boithang Haokip and finished with ease.
Sporting Clube had a goal disallowed but they were soon on level terms as Kalu headed a fine cross from Mauvin Borges.
The goal calmed Sporting’s nerves, although it was not until the second session that the extent of Sporting’s domination was made known.
Sporting took the lead for the first time in the 59th minute when a smart set-piece from Arturo Garcia saw Kalu’s powerful grounder beat the rival goalkeeper.
The goal broke Shillong Lajong’s resolve as they allowed the hosts easy passages. In the 68th minute, Sporting scored their third goal through some wonderful work by Australian striker Boima Karpeh who controlled a ball from just beyond the centre, flicked it past his marker and raced towards the goal for a comfortable finish.
Two minutes later, Kalu got his hat-trick, the first by any player in the I-League this season. It came typically from another set-piece as Beevan D’Mello’s corner kick was headed by Gonzalo Neila and then directed into the goal by Kalu.
Sporting hammered the final nail in Lajong’s coffin in the dying minutes of the match when Victorino gave finishing touches to a fine counter.
The margin of victory could have so easily been bigger but Sporting missed a couple of gilt-edge chances. At first, Karpeh sent his attempt wide when left all alone and then goalkeeper Laltaummawia Ralte blocked substitute Victorino Fernandes’s sharp attempt from handshaking distance.
