Sporting take on Lajong, Shilong

Panaji: Sporting Clube de Goa would be looking for the right start when they take on new entrants

Lajong FC in the second round of the I-League tomorrow at Tilak ground, Vasco. Sporting Clube has remained one of the most consistent clubs in the national football league and the nearest they came to win the title was in 2005 when they lost it on the final day. Last year also, they had a good chance to win the title as they perched on top for most of the time till they went down towards the end. Sporting`s preparation for the I-league was haphazard. The inclement weather, injuries and the late arrivial of the foreigners were the reasons where the team could not prepare themselves as a cohesive unit. Now that most of the players recovered from injuries, except Wilton Gomes and Felix D`souza, the team looks good. "Lajong are unknown commodities and can take us by suprise. We need to guard against complacent and need to score early goals as they would play more defensive game," said Peter Vaz, Sporting president. Lajong coach Standly Rosario wants to forget the bitter defeat against JCT in their lung opener. "We conceded silly goals which resulted in our defeat. Now that we want to forget and concentrate in tomorrow`s match which will be a tough encounter for which our boys are ready. We had a practice session at Tilak ground yesterday and all my boys are fit," stated Rosario. Bureau Report