Upbeat Sporting take on Viva Kerala

Margao: Fresh from their upset victory over Mohun Bagan, an upbeat Sporting Club de Goa will look to carry

forward their good performance when they meet visitors Viva Kerala in the 18th round I-League match at the Nehru stadium here tomorrow. It took Sporting 17 games to register their first win in the I-League as they upset the Kolkata giants 2-1 in their own backyard. The hosts, who led the table in the first phase of the last season and eventually finished third, in contrast are placed at the bottom this year and have a tough job to avoid relegation. But the win against Mohun Bagan has lifted their morale. "Consistency is very important now because there is very little room for error. It is going to be difficult for all the players to believe that survival is very much possible," Sporting`s coach Vishwas Gaonkar said. "We have a tough ask because less than 10 matches remain now but we have been playing well recently and the first win of the campaign has lifted our morale. All this while there was so much tension, but now you feel a bit relaxed after this first win and that too against Mohun Bagan which gives more confidence to play better against other teams," Gaonkar said. Sporting has so far accumulated just 11 points from 17 matches. "Viva Kerala, who have 20 points from 17 matches, are also fighting to avoid relegation like us and we will have to play with all our h earts and take advantage of playing at home to collect full points," Gaonkar added. Viva Kerala, who have earned the reputation of being giant-killers after beating leaders Dempo and drawing against title contenders Mahindra United and Churchill Bros, will miss Reuben Sanyo in tomorrow`s match. The visitors have a solid defence manned by in-form Charles Dzisah, but their worry is lack of goals by their strikers. "It`s going to be a tough match because Sporting have got a lot of encouragement after their surprising win over Mohun Bagan. The fact that we are placed above them in the table will put us under more pressure so we must deliver a strong performance," Viva Kerala coach Sreedharan said. "I think from now until the end of the season it will be difficult for each and every team to get points and for bottom half teams it will be tougher. I have faith in my players because they are talented and have the desire so hopefully we can achieve our target," he added. PTI