MAPUSA: Panjim Footballers and Vasco Sports Club played a 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, here on Saturday.
With this draw, Vasco has 17 points from 15 matches, while Panjim has 15 points from 15 matches.
Panjim coach Savio Vaz made only one change to their side which stunned FC Bardez in the last match as Chandan Gawas was back in the line-up for the Capital city side, while Vasco coach Eban Mesquita made two changes following their defeat at the hands of Corps of Signals in the previous round match as the Guinean midfielder Vasseba Toure made the comeback, while goalkeeper Suresh Lamani replaced injured Amit Biswas in between the sticks for the Port Towners.
Panjim were awarded a penalty in the 8th minute when Vasco keeper Suresh brought down Israeli midfielder Fady Riad inside the box to give away the penalty. Fady himself stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to make it 1-0 for his side.
Fady had three more clear-cut chances in the next 20 minutes but the Vasco keeper Suresh thwarted him in one-on-one situations on a couple of occasions, while his sparkling shot from outside the box was brilliantly pushed for safety by the Vasco custodian.
At the other end, Anil Gaoncar brought back Vasco on level terms in the 41st minute when he dribbled past two defenders in his run from the halfway line and slammed the ball into the empty net from close to make it 1-1 at the halftime.
Vasco wasted an easy chance to take the lead in the 51st minute when Franky’s spot kick was brilliantly saved by the Panjim keeper Gurpreet after defender Clive Miranda brought down Flan Gomes in the box to give away the penalty kick to the rivals.
Panjim came up with series of attacks but Fady’s powerful strikes were brilliantly pushed for safety by Vasco keeper Suresh, while another attempt from just inside the box went over the crossbar.
A few minutes later, Vasco custodian was once again at his best as his diving efforts denied Prisco Moura’s curling shot from the outside the box, whereas, Akeraj Martins’ fierce shot from the 35-yards hit the crossbar before going out for a goal-kick.
At the other end, Vasco skipper Schubert brilliantly danced past three defenders in the box but failed to control his shot as the same went over the crossbar. Another chance for the Port Towners went into vain when Schubert brilliantly cut past onrushing keeper Gurpreet but his shot from the acute angel found the side netting.
