Salgaocar favourite against Sporting

Margao: Riding high after after their comprehensive win over East Bengal, Salgaocar looks favourite against demoralised Sporting Clube de Goa in the 19th round of the I-league, played at Nehru stadium, here on Saturday.

A 4-1 home win over Kolkata giants East Bengal, moved Salgaocar out of the bottom two but they are still only one point above the drop zone so coach Karim Bencherifa would know that there is very little room for error. On the other hand Sporting failed to build on their first win of the season as they went down to Viva at home in the last round. The Flaming Oranje are nine points off safety and so probably need to win almost all their remaining games to stand any chance of beating the drop. All of Salgaocar’s five wins have come in Goa and they picked up seven points from four goal local derbies this season. Sporting on the other hand have not won in their own backyard and have a pretty poor record in derbies. Sporting shockingly defeated Bagan to record their first win of the campaign and with that, they have raised some outside hopes of beating the drop. But their loss in the next match against Viva Kerala have shattered their dream of avoiding relegation The Flaming Orange are still seven points away from safety so they need to have a perfect finish to survive now needs to win all their remaining matches. Salgaocar midfield which failed against chirag United played cohesively against East Bengal and if they play in the same vein there is no doubt of their win against depleted sporting who are low on morale. Luciano Saborosa and Rouhollah Samienia has handled the defense admirably. In the upfront Salgaocar will be looking to their inform Ekene Ikenwa for goals along with Keita Mandjou. But their loss in the next match against Viva Kerala have shattered their dream of avoiding relegation. The Flaming Orange are still seven points away from safety so they need to have a perfect finish to survive now and needs to win all their remaining matches. Salgaocar midfield which failed against Chirag United played cohesively against East Bengal and if they play in the same vein there is no doubt of their win against depleted sporting who are low on morale. Luciano Saborosa and Rouhollah Samienia has handled the defense admirably. In the upfront Salgaocar will be looking to their inform Ekene Ikenwa for goals along with Keita Mandjou. PTI