Mahindra United trounce Sporting 3-0

Mahindra United blanked Sporting Club-de-Goa 3-0 to score their first win in the ONGC I-League at Nehru stadium in Margao on Friday.

Mahindra, who led 1-0 at half-time, scored through Douhousey D Pierre (first minute), Steven Dias (52nd) and substitute Tarif Ahmed (injury time of second half).

With the win, Derrick Pereira's team now has six points from five matches while Sporting have two.

Sporting, who came out strong in the second half, had only themselves to blame as they failed to score on several chances that came their way.

Mahindra keeper Sandip Nandy also came off with couple of good saves.

The Mumbai outfit, which had an indifferent start with three draws and a loss, took an early lead.

The teams had hardly settled down when Surajit Bose caught the rival defence napping with a through pass to Douhousey D Pierre who beat keeper Felix D'Souza with a deft placement.

Sporting had an opportunity to equalise three minutes later but Olushola Ogundare, who was unmarked inside the box, essayed a weak shot which keeper Sandip Nandy collected.

Mahindra slowly took control of the midfield and could have increased the lead but Surajit twice failed to beat keeper Felix, who brought off some good saves.

After the change of ends, Sporting had another chance to equalise but Rajesh Meetei shot over from close.

Mahindra came up with a counter-attack and increased the lead in the 52nd minute.

Sushant Mathew from the left sent a cross to Andrews Pomeyie, who controlled the ball at the top of the box and released it to Dias who slammed home.

Sporting created several scoring chances and were unlucky in the 83rd minute when Elijah Ebagbemiro's shot hit the post.

Substitute Tarif Ahmed sealed Sporting's fate when he beat keeper Felix D'Souza with a fine placement off a pass from Dias.