MAPUSA: Corps of Signals managed to edge past Vasco Sports Club by 2-1 in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, here on Sunday.
With Sunday’s victory, Corps climbed to 6th place with 18 points from 15 matches, whereas, Vasco remained in the 8th position with 16 points from 14 matches.
Vasco coach Eban Mesquita made two changes to his side which drew with Churchill Brothers in the last match as defender Sushant Borker and Amit Biswas made into the cut, while Signals who drew to Panjim Footballers in the previous round match had only one change to their side as defender Kuldeep Kumar was back in the starting XI for the Army men.
Vasco should have taken the lead in the 9th minute when their speedy winger Anil Gaoncar who made a superb run from his own half, cutting past a few defenders to enter the box but failed to keep his shot on target with just keeper at the stake.
A few minutes later, Anil had another chance to make up for his last miss when Franky Oliveira found
him in the box but the winger shot the ball in the waiting gloves of the Signals keeper Binu Purushothama.
Signals punished them for not converting the easy chances as the Army men surged ahead in the 20th minute when Harshad Thube tapped in from close off Pawan Thakur’s header pass from inside the box to make it 1-0 for his side.
Four minutes later, Signals doubled their lead when U-20 striker Cyril Dias took advantage of the confusion between Vasco defender Myron Pereira and keeper Amit Biswas to clear the long ball from Pawan Thakur.
Vasco reduced the margin through their skipper Schubert Pereira in the 40th minute when defender Shushant Borkar made a swift run and found Franky with a brilliant through pass, who later covered some ground before unleashing the powerful strike from just inside the box but his shot was blocked by
keeper Binu, however, the loose ball was slotted into the net by the Vasco skipper.
On crossing over, Vasco were the dominant side with better ball possession and attacking index where
they made marched on the rivals on many occasions but every time the Army men defence stood tall to restrict the Port Towners from finding the equaliser. Whereas, some aimless shots from Anil, Franky and Flan also wasted opportunities for Vasco.
In the dying minutes of the match, Signals keeper Binu made some superb clearances to hold his side’s
slender lead until the full-time whistle.
