Sporting Clube de Goa

Full Name: Sporting Clube de Goa
Known As: Flaming Oranje
Hometown: Panjim, Goa
Founded: 1999
Ground: Jawaharlal Nehru Fatorda Stadium (NFL home ground)
League: NFL Premier Division, Goa Professional League

Sporting Clube de Goa, a professional football club, came into existence in 1999, when the public of Panjim decided to launch a football club after Cidade de Goa disbanded its football team. Thus, after Vasco Sports Club, Sporting became the second club of public shareholding in Goa. The club, built on the lines of Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal, has made rapid strides in the national circuit. Sporting shot to prominence by an impressive performance in the 2001-02 Federation Cup, the team made it to the last four after victories over stronger teams like East Bengal and Indian Bank.

Sporting Club de Goa made its debut in the 2003-04 season of the Indian National Football League Premier Division. Although the team was in the verge of winning the League, it missed out the top honors by a whisker, when the Dempo Sports Club defeated it. The season was not in favor of Sporting Club de Goa, because the team met with a horrific bus accident, which left many players injured. Consequently, the four key players of the club were ousted from the team, due to their injury.

Performance At National Football League
The Sporting Clube de Goa emerged as champions in the Second Division National Football League 2002-2003 season. Thereafter, it qualified for the 2003-2004 First Division National Football League. The club managed to secure the 8th place and since then, it has been playing for the top honors in football. Sporting won the ONGC Super Cup, by defeating the NFL Champions Dempo Sports Club 3-0. Sporting Club de Goa finished 4th at the 10th ONGC Cup National Football League 2005-06, followed by a 6th position in the 11th ONGC Cup National Football League 2006-07.

Performance At Federation Cup
With the scintillating performance at the national football scenario, Sporting Club de Goa made it to the 2001-02 Federation Cup at Chennai, by making it to the last four after defeating the teams including Indian Bank, Tollygunge and East Bengal, before bowing out to Dempo Sports Club in the semifinals. Although Sporting lost to Mahindra United at Calcutta in 2002-03 season, it made a comeback at Federation Cup 2004, held at Bangalore, by defeating Mohamedan Sporting and East Bengal, before losing to Mohun Bagan. Sporting entered the finals of 2005 Federation Cup, and emerged as the runner-up. In the following season, the club reached the finals once again, but lost in penalty shoot-out to Mohun Bagan.

Performance At Durand Cup
The performance of Sporting Clube de Goa has been reasonably well at the Durand Cup. After entering the quarter finals of the 117th Duran Cup 2004, it became the runner-up in the following year. Sporting was among the semi-finalists of the 119th Durand Cup 2006 and reached the quarter final in the 120th Durand Cup 2007. In the 121st Durand Cup 2008, the club reached the semi finals.