Sporting Clube miss out on I-League spot, finish third

Panaji: Sporting Clube de Goa have missed out on a place in next season’s I-League after picking up just one point from their last two matches.
If the loss against Neroca FC away in Manipur last week was damaging, the 1-1 draw against FC Bengaluru United at the Dravid Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru on Saturday ended their hopes, despite second-placed Chanmari FC losing their penultimate tie.
With just one round to go, Chanmari have 30 points in 15 matches (nine wins, three draws and three losses) in the I-League 2 this season. Sporting have 26 points and will finish in third place. Champions Diamond Harbour, who already secured promotion on April 11, sit pretty at the top with 37 points (11 wins and four draws). They will hope to finish the season unbeaten when they face Bengaluru United on April 26 in Naihati.
Diamond Harbour and Chanmari have both qualified for the I-League. With Chanmari now joining Aizawl FC, it will mark the first time that two clubs from Mizoram will be part of the I-League.
Sporting will have some soul-searching to do after coming close for the second consecutive season. They started with plenty of promise and kept themselves in the hunt with some gritty performances. But it is their inability to win any of their last two games that eventually proved to be their undoing.
In Bengaluru, despite early efforts from Doyal and Samuel, Sporting found themselves trailing at halftime after FCBU capitalised on a defensive gap to net the opener. The first half saw Sporting pushing forward with intent but the visitors lacked the final touch.
Sporting equalised in the 70th minute through Doyal’s penalty but despite several late pushes could not find a winner.