Margao: Sporting Clube de Goa got over a firm challenge to down JCT 2-1 at the Nehru Stadium here on Sunday. With this, Sporting Clube de Goa finished the first phase of the ONGC I-League at the top of the table.

Both the goals for Sporting Clube were scored by Junior Obagbemiro (29th and 47th) while one goal from JCT was scored by Jagpreet Singh in the 56th minute of the match.

In the beginning, JCT dominated the proceedings. It had two clear chances in the first half but Eduardo Escobar failed to direct the ball on target. Sporting Clube came up with a defense and rushed ahead in the 29th minute of the match.

Bibiano Fernandes relayed the ball to Joseph Pereira on the left of the box. His low shot was blocked by goalkeeper Karanjit Singh but the rebound fell kindly for Junior to tap it into the net. Junior increased the lead soon after the interval when he volleyed home from a Bibiano cross. Fresh pair of legs were introduced by JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh to find the equaliser and nearly came through the midway of the second half when a move down the middle saw Balwant Singh releasing Randeep Singh, but his shot lacked power.

In the last few minutes of the match, JCT made fraught attempts to find the equaliser but could not beat Felix under the bar.

At the end of the first phase, the Sporting Clube de Goa team is placed at the top with 25 points while JCT is lying at the eighth position with 12.

Goalscorer Sporting: Junior Elijah (30th and 47th)

Goalscorer JCT: Jagpreet Singh (60th)

Man of the Match: Julius Akpele (JCT)