Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: Sporting Clube de Goa secured a 5-2 win against Kenkre FC in I-League 2 at COE Kharghar, Mumbai, on Tuesday.
Sporting strikers hit top form as Alister Anthony netted a hat-trick and Doyal Alves secured a brace.
The Goan side were coming into the fixture after a three-match winless run and were stunned in the fourth minute when Kenkre captain Raul Almeida gave the home side the lead.
However, Sporting regrouped and Doyal equalised six minutes later.
As the match progressed, Sporting took control and went ahead after a fine striker from Alister in the 33rd minute. It helped boost the morale of Armando Colaco’s side and there was no looking back. Three minutes later, Alister scored his brace and just a minute before the break, the forward completed his hat-trick.
In the second half, Kenkre, who had lost 1-2 in the first leg, did try to put up a fight, but Doyal left them crushed once again with his second to make it 5-1.
Kenkre did manage to reduce the margin in the 70th minute when Khanngam Horam found the back of the net.
The win put Sporting back in the fourth position after nine games as they are on 13 points, a point behind third-placed Dempo SC, who have a game in hand.
FC Bengaluru United lead the standings with 19 points from eight matches while SC Bengaluru are second with 18 points.
Sporting will need to continue with the same momentum when they host league leaders Bengaluru United on April 6 at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
In the first leg, Sporting had narrowly lost to Bengaluru United by a solitary-goal despite superior ball possession.
Photo Caption: Sporting Clube de Goa defeated Kenkre FC 5-2 in Mumbai on Tuesday. In the first leg at Tilak Maidan, Sporting had won 2-1.
