DSK Shivajians continued from where they left off hammering Sporting Clube de Goa 3-1 and register their biggest win in an I-League Round-12 encounter at the Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge-Balewadi, on Sunday.
A first-half blitzkrieg from hosts DSK Shivajians saw them race to a three-goal lead. Striker Aser Perrick Dipanda broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, before playmaker Douhou Pierre netted a brace (21st & 32nd minute) to give them a 3-0 lead. Defender Subhasish Bose (73rd) scored a consolation goal late in the second half for Sporting.
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The win was DSK Shivajians’ second-in-a-row and third of the season and helped them extend their unbeaten run to four games and move into seventh position. In fact, the three points earned takes DSK Shivajians tally to twelve points, level with Mumbai FC (5th) and Salgaocar FC (6th), but behind on head-to-head.
Going into this crucial clash, Coach Derrick Pereira opted to field the same team which had beaten East Bengal a week ago.
After a slow start to the game, hosts DSK Shivajians began pressing high up. The pressure paid off as a minute before the quarter hour mark, DSK Shivajians took the lead. A quick freekick down the right flank by defender Sena Ralte to Juan Quero had the Spanish winger float in a beautiful cross across the box to striker Perrick who headed home from close.
Having taken the lead, the hosts increased their domination and struck again seven minutes later. Winger Quero was once again the creator of the goal as he split the Sporting defense with a neat through pass sending Perrick free in the box on the right. The Cameroonian striker beat a defender with a quick turn to float in a cross at the far post to Douhou who headed in with ease for his second goal in as many games.
DSK Shivajians then increased their lead even further couple minutes past the half hour mark when a quick exchange between Douhou and Perrick saw the Ivorian get clear into the box before firing a low shot past the helpless Arindam Bhattacharya in the Sporting goal to complete his brace.
A few minutes later, Douhou almost made it four for the hosts only for his goal on Quero's cross to be denied by the lineman for offside. Meanwhile, at the other end, Sporting tried to create something but were denied by some resolute defending by Zohmingliana Ralte and Sandesh Jhingan as the first half ended 3-0.
The second half was a different story as Sporting came out of their shell and began attacking as the home side soaked pressure in the opening quarter. Goalkeeper Subrata Paul was in the thick of action pulling off saves after saves to keep the lead intact.
While Shivajians were lacking the finish in the final third, Subrata's defense was finally broken as a lapse of concentration saw Sporting pull back a goal midway through the half. Defender Subhasish Bose rose above all in the box on Rowllin Borges' corner kick to score off a header in the 73rd minute.
In the final ten minutes, DSK Shivajians almost restored their three goal lead after some brilliant combination play between Surchandra Singh, Douhou and Quero. The Spaniard managed to send substitute Israil Gurung, on for Perrick, clear in the box only for his first touch to let him down.
Sporting tried to push up in the final moments of the game, but DSK Shivajians held their nerve to seal another historic win.
