Upbeat Sporting take on Viva Kerala
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.
Trending Photos
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
Advertisement
Live Tv
Advertisement