Okolie Odafe scored twice and dealt a body blow to Mohun Bagan's title aspirations in Margao on Saturday as they were humbled 2-1 by Sporting Clube de Goa, who are fighting their own battle to avoid relegation in the I-League football.
After both teams failed to break the deadlock in a barren first half, Sporting came back strongly in the second session to score through Man of the Match Odafe in the 70th and 87th minutes. Katsumi Yusa pulled one back for the visitors in the 73rd minute. The win is very important for Sporting as they now moved above Dempo FC with 17 points from as many matches, the same as Shillong Lajong, Salgaocar FC and Mumbai FC, but are placed 10th owing to inferior goal difference.
Seeking for a title triumph since their last victory in the 2001-02 season, this was Mohun Bagan's third match on the trot without a win this season. They remained on 32 points at the top along with Bengaluru FC from 17 games. Coming off a draw and a defeat, Mohun Bagan knew the importance of a positive result today to keep themselves three points clear of their nearest rival Bengaluru FC. They started well and controlled the proceedings for a better part of the first half, and also had an early chance to forge ahead in the sixth minute, but a diving Ravi Kumar did well to deny Balwant Singh, who received a pass from Pierre Boya inside the box.
Sporting created a couple of clear cut chances but Mahmoud Al Amna's shot was blocked by keeper Debjit Majumder. Thereafter Brendon Fernandes, who was not his usual self, saw his effort getting wasted.
Sony Norde, who was a constant threat to the rival defense, saw his curling free kick put out in time by keeper Ravi Kumar. In the second half, Pierre Boya had a glorious chance to put his team ahead off a Sony Norde pass, but his shot was blocked by Kumar.
Sporting took the lead when a combined move on the right between Pratesh Shirodkar and Brendon Fernndes saw the latter sending a curling lob into the goal for Odafe to head home. Stung by the reverse, Bagan retaliated and restored parity three minutes later, with the speedy Sony Norde laying one for Yusa to tap the ball into an empty net.
The home team kept up the pressure on the visitors in the last quarter and had a couple of chances but Alber Gonsalves, who was served on a platter by Odafe, saw his effort being saved by Majumdar with his outstretched leg. Sporting finally scored the winner in the 87th minute through Odafe. Brendon Fernandes, from the right, sent a high ball into the box for Odafe, whose curling shot beat Majumder all ends up to give his side full points.
