SHILLONG: Royal Wahingdoh FC survived first half scares to hold on to a goalless draw against bottom-ranked Sporting Clube de Goa in a Hero I-League match at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Tuesday.
Post the encounter the Royals stood firm at the third spot in the standings with 22 points while Sporting continue to linger at the 11th position.
The visitors, who are aiming for the title, would be disappointed with the outcome of the tie against a side they had defeated in the reverse fixture.
It was a thrilling encounter though at Goa, with Sporting creating a few chances in the firsthalf. However, the Royals came back strong in the second and created over a couple of genuine chances but the strikers failed to utilize on them.
Loveday and Nikhil Bernard were undoubtedly the two outstanding performers for the Royals coming up with some brilliant saves to deny the hosts.
Meanwhile, Bekay Bawar, Jackichand Singh and Seityasen Singh came close to scoring for the Shillong side but could not finish to perfection.
The Goans were reduced to 10-men after Jovel Martins picked two yellow cards (83’ and 89’) in a span of six minutes. Earlier, Santosh Kashyap decided to start with goalkeeper Nikhil Bernard ahead of Prem Kumar Singh while Lalhmangaihsanga came back to the starting XI in place of Govin Singh.
Sporting’s attack was frustrated early on by Loveday Okechukwu who denied the likes of Wolfe, Miguel Garcia and Mahmoud Amenah in the first six minutes of play.
Nevertheless, it was an intense first half with Sporting creating several chances but Loveday was the saviour for Wahingdoh, clearing the ball from goal mouth on at least two occasions.
A Godwin Franco scorcher from a distance that went wide was the best chance that Wahingdoh had of converting in the first half.
Crossing over the Royals looked better suited to the conditions.
Nikhil Bernard pulled off an excellent save in the 50th minute to deny Sandesh Jhingan’s header off a Cajetan Fernandes corner.
Kashap’s boys, thereon, continued to put pressure on the home team. Two minutes post the hour mark, RWFC substitute Seityasen Singh had a shot on target only to be denied by rival goalie R Kumar after a good build up by Jacki and Densill Theobald.
Minutes later Jhingan produced a last ditch tackle on Seityasen who was played through inside the Sporting box by Bekay to deny the Royals.
Later in the 72nd minute, Seityasen’s cross was almost converted off Jackichand who was in an awkward position but Jhingan got back on the line and cleared the ball before it could cross over.
Wahingdoh almost snatched a victory deep into injury time as Bekay Bawar’s shot off Seityasen’s cross was blocked by the rival custodian.
RWFC will now take on Shillong Lajong FC in an I-League derby in Shillong on Sunday.
