I-League: Salgaocar FC want to return to winning ways against Sporting Goa

Salgaocar FC will have to get their act right, and that quickly too, as they aim to climb back to the top in the I-League. Salgaocar FC seemed comfortable at the top but a loss against Bengaluru FC in the previous game saw them surrender the top spot to their rivals. With Pune FC also having the same number of points, there is a three-way tie at the top of the league.

Salgaocar FC will get a chance to do just that when they battle Sporting Clube de Goa in the 12th round battle of the I-League at the Duler ground in Goa on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s not worrisome as such but I am certainly not happy with the (recent) performances. It’s been a disappointment. In a league like this one, there is bound to be ups and downs and we have to be prepared for that,” said Salgaocar coach Derrick Pereira.

Salgaocar missed a last-minute penalty in the previous game against Bengaluru FC but Derrick had other concerns on his mind. “We didn’t do well. The defence was not good enough and our strikers were not combining well. We have to show improvements,” said the AIFF coach of the year.

Derrick is likely to ring in some changes to make the team more effective against Sporting Clube.

Meanwhile Sporting Goa are still reeling from the shock defeat against Churchill Brothers SC. Sporting Goa seemed to have done enough to secure a draw against Churchill Brothers until super-sub Jaison Vales scored in injury-time and gave Churchill Brothers their first win in ten matches.

“I was disappointed with our last game, especially the first half, where we were slow to start and did not match our rivals, tactically,” said Sporting Goa coach Oscar Bruzon.

“We have prepared well for Salgaocar and I think the team is in good shape as well. I expect a good game,” said the Spanish coach.

Bruzon said he will have to make ‘slight adjustments’ to the team to make them more compact and indicated that there could be a couple of changes. Sporting Clube are placed fifth with 15 points from ten matches.