Goa Pro League: Super Cup champs Sporting Clube de Goa take on Margao SC in opener

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Reigning Goa Super Cup champions, Sporting Clube de Goa take on Margao Sports Club in their opening Goa Pro League match at Duler Stadium in Mapusa tomorrow.

The kick-off is scheduled for 4.15pm.

This will be Sporting Goa’s first match at the Duler Stadium since clinching the Goa Super Cup in the very last minute, thanks to a fabulous Victorino Fernandes strike against Sesa Football Academy in May.

The performance which is still fresh in the minds of the Flaming Orange supporters, capped off a spectacular end to a rollercoaster season, in which Sporting Goa also finished 6th in the I-League.

Sporting Goa have since recruited the likes of Liberian striker Jerry Boima Karpeh and attacking players Beevan D’Mello and Cajetan Fernandes to bolster their squad.

Their top goal scorer for the past two seasons and influential midfielder Ogba Kalu Nnanna has been retained. Sporting Goa will be missing the services of striker Dawson Fernandes who is leaving to join up with the Indian national team squad.

Margao SC start their third consecutive season in the top flight of Goan football and remain ever so popular with the fans as they continue their focus with promoting local Goan talent.

When the two teams met last season in the Goa Pro League at the Raia ground, Sporting Goa edged out Margao 1-0. The year before that Sporting Goa overcame their opponents 3-0.

“We have enjoyed very good pre-season preparations. The players fully understand what is expected of them and we would like to start the season with a bang and give our supporters plenty to cheer about,” stated Sporting Clube de Goa coach Óscar Bruzón Barreras.