Sporting confident to break Bengaluru’s fine run

Sporting Clube de Goa are on a mission to claw their way back to the top. They defeated second-placed FC Bengaluru United and are now gearing up for a daunting task against league leaders Sporting Club Bengaluru in the I-League 2 at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Thursday.

Sporting, the Third Division champions, are on a two-match winning run after a rough spell where they lost three consecutive games and surrendered their hold on the top position.

“We have won the last two games and there is a strong belief in the team. The boys are really working hard,” said Sporting technical advisor Climax Lawrence.

Sporting are currently in fifth place with 16 points while SC Bengaluru have 24 points from 10 rounds, thanks to their seven-match unbeaten run.

When the two teams met in Bengaluru, Sporting narrowly lost by a solitary-goal.

“We lost against them earlier despite playing really well and the boys know that. They are confident to do well,” said Climax, the former India captain.

FC Bengaluru United were held to a 2-2 draw by Maharashtra Oranje FC, while another Goan side Dempo SC played out a 1-1 draw against United SC on Wednesday.

It gives Sporting a chance to take the third position with a win if at all fourth-placed Sudeva Delhi FC drop points against Kenkre FC on Thursday.

The kick off is 4pm.