Team Herald
MAPUSA: Velsao SCC managed to edge past Vasco SC by 2-1 margin in the Goa Professional League played at Duler stadium here on Thursday.
Vasco SC coach Micky Fernandes fielded in six new signings after their last league match defeat to Churchill Brothers while Velsao SCC incharge Eban Mesquita whose team had held FC Goa brought just one change in his Starting XI.
Velsao SCC struck both their goals in the first session through Imran Khan and K Vinoth while Chirag Mardolkar pulled a goal for Vasco.
The Port Towners dominated in the first 25 minutes of the match gaining four corners but could not get a descent attempt at the rival goal.
Their best threatening move came in the 10th minute from a fine build up initiated by foreign signing from Nigeria, Odili Chidi who found Savlon Fernandes on top of the box, in turn sent a low cross to overlapping unmarked U20 Prajwal Ghadi who was a bit late to connect.
While Vasco colts did the attacking, Velsao unit drew the first blood in the 26th minute where K Vinoth getting hold of a square pass from U20 Climax Fernandes latched a stiff grounder which sneaked into the nets past the diving Vasco keeper Mohammed Shahanas, 1-0.
Velsao should have doubled their lead five minutes later when U20 Shario Gomes sent a through pass to KVinoth who shot out.
A minute before the end of the regulation time a curling freekick by Khrawkupar Tamu was headed by Odili Chidi to Savlon Fernandes who connected skywards.
Velsao further increased their lead in the 46th minute where Imran Khan coolly dribbled past a host of Vasco defenders and squared the ball to unmarked K Vinoth who slammed the ball into the goal, 2-0.
Vasco’s in charge Micky Fernandes brought three fresh legs at the start of the second session.
Velsao’s Imran Khan found Climax Fernandes on the right flank who crossed the ball to K Vinoth who had just the Vasco’s keeper to beat saw his tap missed the target narrowly.
At the other end in the 52nd minute Kuldeep Kumar diving header was blocked on the goalline by Velsao’s Climax Fernandes and the ball travelled to substitute Chirag Mardolkar who drove his strike into the back of the nylons 2-1.
Port Towners had two more chances to level terms with former International Cavin Lobo doing the spadework but Savlon Fernandes and Odili Chidi failed to find the goal framework.
Another chance went a begging when Chirag Mardolkar saw his 25-yard strike being fisted for a corner by keeper Arnab Sharma.
Imran Khan of Velsao SCC received the man-of-the-match award from the hands of Babli Mandrekar, former GFA executive member.

