New Delhi: Sporting Clube de Goa rode on a hattrick by Ogba Kalu Nnanna to thrash Shillong Lajong 5-1 in an I-league encounter at the Duler Stadium, Goa on Saturday .
Taisuke Matsugane (15th minute) gave Shillong the lead but the visitors' joy was short lived as the Goans hit back with a vengeance. Ogba (25th, 59th, 69th) was in top form while Boima Karpeh (65th) and Victorino Fernandes (90+1) scored once each.
Sporting, who are second on the league table, have 24 points in their kitty and have closed the gap with leaders Bengaluru FC to three points.
Shillong Lajong remained on third place with 20 points. gling Mohun Bagan slipped to another home defeat as Holicharan Narzary (33rd) struck in the first half to hand 10man Dempo SC a controversial 1-0 win.
The hosts can themselves unlucky as referee C. Srikishna denied them a penalty after Dempo’s Narayan Das used his arm to block a Ram Malik cross inside the box in the 11th minute. The Goans, who registered their first win from six matches, have risen to seventh place with 16 points from 14 matches.
It was yet another pathetic display from the home side who were at their wasteful best, while ace forward Odafa Okolie continued his slump in form as they slipped to 10th with 15 points from 14 matches.
