A goal in each half helped Sporting Clube de Goa defeat Mohun Bagan 2-0 in the third round of the ONGC I-League, played at Nehru Stadium Fatorda on Saturday.
The hosts scored through Man of the Match Wilton Gomes (25th minute) and substitute Nathaniel Amos (47th).
The win, their third in-a-row, kept Sporting Clube at the top of the table with nine points from three matches while Mohun Bagan, who suffered their second defeat, have just one point.
Sporting Clube midfield combined well and they had better share of the exchanges.
Joseph Pereira and Harmanjot Khabra stitched some nice moves down the left as Sporting Clube applied pressure on the rival defence.
Striker Joychandra Singh, who gave a good account of himself, sounded the first warning for the Kolkata side as his shot hit the woodwork in the 25th minute.
Sporting Clube surged ahead soon after. Joseph's measured cross from the left kept the defenders rooted to the ground as Wilton sneaked in from behind and dived full length to head the ball goalwards.
Mohun Bagan's left full-back N Mohanraj made a desperate attempt to keep the ball out but managed to find his own net.
Mohun Bagan's Brazilian striker Jose Barreto tried to get things moving with some nice assists to Ishfaq Ahmed and Shylo Malswamtluanga. But both managed to send their efforts wide and the absence of Bhaichung Bhutia was acutely felt.
Sporting Clube continued to enjoy upper hands in the second half and doubled the margin in the 47th minute through Nigerian recruit Nathaniel, who replaced Joychandra late in the first half.
Joseph, who sent shivers with his crosses down the left, worked another one into the box for Nathaniel, who took advantage of his height, out-jumped central defender Deepak Mandal and headed the ball out of the reach of goalkeeper Shilton Paul.
Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa was disappointed with his team's performance.
"Injuries to key players and too many matches during the start of the season has effected our team's performance which has taken toll on the players' mentally," Bencherifa said.
Sporting Clube coach Vishwas Gaunkar was happy the way his wards played.
"I was expecting a result. The win will give us a boost when we meet Churchill Brothers in the next match here on October 19," he stated.
Chandra Shekhar Chinta of Sporting Clube and Mohun Bagan's Mohanraj saw a yellow card each from referee P Baskar.
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