Played
November 18, 2012 7:00 PM IST
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Fatorda Stadium) — Margao, Goa
Referee:‬ A. Shekar‎
 

Sporting Clube de Goa - United Sikkim FC Preview: Will Bhaichung's coaching debut turn out to be memorable?

Ekendra Singh's side will take on a United Sikkim who are on the back of a 10-1 mauling by Prayag United and under a new coach in Bhaichung Bhutia...

By Srinivasan Mohan

More On :  Sporting Clube de Goa, United Sikkim F.C., Sporting Clube de Goa vs United Sikkim F.C.
Bhaichung Bhutia
AIFF
  PROBABLE LINEUPS
SPORTING CLUBE DE GOA

D'Mello
Clement, Samananda, Lourenco, Pereira;
Joseph Pereira,Shirodkar,Peixoto;
Dawson,Mackroy,Obiora
UNITED SIKKIM SC

Yoon Tae;
Anwar,Lugun, Rodriguez,Jaiswal;
Attivi,Thupden, Ashish Chhetri,Machado;
Salau, Tamang
  PREVIEW

Sporting Clube de Goa will be desperate to obtain three points as they take on a United Sikkim side that is in dire need of a confidence booster after being on the receiving end of a 10-1 scoreline at the hands of Prayag United. Sporting and United Sikkim lie in 10th and 11th places respectively in the league table with only goal difference separating the two.

Sporting have been boosted by the arrival of Nigerian junior international Anorue Obiora, who scored on his debut in their 3-2 loss to Mumbai FC. This will relieve the pressure of goalscoring from regular strikers Dawson and Victorino Fernandes.

The Goan side will also need to tighten things up at the back as they are one of the few clubs who have conceded more than 10 goals after just 5 games into the league season. This was seen when they threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Mumbai FC due to their makeshift backline.

United Sikkim will need to pick themselves up after being mauled by Prayag United. That defeat resulted in some managerial changes as former India captain and United Sikkim squad member Bhaichung Bhutia took over as player-manager. Phillipe de Ridder was promoted to a football director's role.

Bhaichung will need to use all his experience to rally his players and inspire them to bounce back against Sporting.

  TEAM NEWS

Sporting Clube de Goa: The Goans have a full strength side going into the fixture.

United Sikkim FC: Bhaichung Bhutia will be eligible to play this game as he completes his suspension, but United Sikkim's player-manager might bring in DG Attivi in place of Safar Sardar as the former was lively when he came on against Prayag United.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • The two sides have only met once in 2011 when they were in the Second Division of the I-League. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
  • Sporting's attacking midfielder Anoure Obiora had a brief stint at English side Crawley Town where he scored two goals in two appearances.
  • United Sikkim's Michael Rodriguez was part of the Costa Rican squad for the 2006 World Cup but never saw any playing time.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Sporting Clube de Goa 1-2 United Sikkim F.C.
    20 %
  • Sporting Clube de Goa 0-8 United Sikkim F.C.
    10 %
  • Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 United Sikkim F.C.
    6.67 %
Head to Head
I-League ‎(IND1)‎ 21-Apr-2013 United Sikkim F.C. 0 - Sporting Clube de Goa 3
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  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
I-League ‎(IND1)‎ 18-Nov-2012 Sporting Clube de Goa 2 - United Sikkim F.C. 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
India - I-League Division 2 ‎(IND2)‎ 26-Apr-2011 Sporting Clube de Goa 1 - United Sikkim F.C. 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Last Five Matches
Sporting Clube de Goa
11-May-2013Sporting Clube de Goa 2 - Mumbai FC 2IND1
21-Apr-2013United Sikkim F.C. 0 - Sporting Clube de Goa 3IND1
14-Apr-2013East Bengal F.C. 1 - Sporting Clube de Goa 1IND1
07-Apr-2013Sporting Clube de Goa 1 - Mohun Bagan A.C. 5IND1
28-Mar-2013Sporting Clube de Goa 1 - ONGC F.C. 1IND1
United Sikkim F.C.
12-May-2013United Sikkim F.C. 0 - Mohun Bagan A.C. 3IND1
08-May-2013East Bengal F.C. 6 - United Sikkim F.C. 0IND1
21-Apr-2013United Sikkim F.C. 0 - Sporting Clube de Goa 3IND1
13-Apr-2013Salgaocar F.C. 9 - United Sikkim F.C. 0IND1
27-Mar-2013United Sikkim F.C. 5 - Air India F.C. 0IND1
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Gerard D'MelloGoalkeeper
4Ningthoujam Samananda SinghDefender
18Singam Rojen SinghDefender
25Boboi SinghDefender
8Ogba Kalu NnannaMidfielder
10Dawson FernandesStriker
15Pratesh Shirodkar Midfielder
22Joseph PereiraMidfielder
24Rovan PereiraDefender
42Anorue ObioraMidfielder
9Seiya SugishitaStriker
13Ashok Singh Goalkeeper
6Keita BoubacarDefender
33Joyner LourencoDefender
12Jovel MartinsMidfielder
23Rowllin BorgesMidfielder
14Victorino FernandesStriker
38Stephen BarrettoMidfielder
1Yoon TaeGoalkeeper
2Sandesh JhinganDefender
5Anwar AliDefender
25Munmun LugunDefender
27M. RodríguezDefender
32Safar SardarDefender
8Zenith MashangvaMidfielder
17Lineker MachadoMidfielder
19Sahensha AnsariMidfielder
10Nurudeen SalauStriker
20Nadong BhutiaDefender
28Monotosh GhoshGoalkeeper
4D.G. AttiviMidfielder
22Ashish ChettriDefender
24Mobin RaiDefender
6Thupden BhutiaMidfielder
11Nima TamangStriker
15Bhaichung BhutiaStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Ranti Martins Ranti Martins
Striker
Prayag United 		27 3
Odafa Onyeka Okolie Odafa Onyeka Okolie
Striker
Mohun Bagan 		20 3
Edeh Chidi Edeh Chidi
Striker
East Bengal 		18 3
James Moga James Moga
Striker
Pune 		16 0
H. Antchouet H. Antchouet
Striker
Churchill 		14 1