MAPUSA: Joyson Gauncar’s strike late in the second half enabled Panjim Footballers to register a 1-0 over Vasco Sports Club in the 14th round match of the GFA's Professional league played at Duler stadium, here, on Tuesday.

Both the teams were tied 0-0 at the end of first half. Joyson Gauncar netted the match winning goal for Panjim Footballers in the 74th minute of the second half.

In their first leg meeting, Panjim Footballers had defeated Vasco 3-0 and they looked to repeat the same in the reverse fixture but were let down by some poor finishing by their strikers.

Vasco looking to avenge defeat started brightly and had two decent chances of opening the scoring through Suraj Mondal, first his well struck half volley missed the target narrowly and then minutes later his mazy run was well cut out by Panjim's defender skipper Kunal Kundaikar who stood his ground before any damage could be done.

Minutes into the match, Panjim’s Joyson Gauncar tested Vasco keeper Amit Biswas with a long ranger which was comfortably collected.

Unmarked Joyson Gauncar should have buried the ball into the net in the 25th minute but his placement from a dangerous cross whipped into the box by Lokeshkumar Talwar scrapped past the post and went out.

Joyson Gauncar once again after doing all the hard work in the 40th minute of getting past a couple of Vasco defenders stuttered at the crucial point which allowed Vasco's Anil Gauncar to get back and snuff out the danger.

Changing ends, Vasco looked livelier and nearly broke the deadlock in the 50th minute when Micky Vaz’s cross found Suraj Mondal who chest controlled the ball perfectly and laid it to Mathew Colaco whose rasping shot struck the Panjim defender for a corner.

Panjim keeper Preston Rego who did not have much to do brought up a brilliant save to stop Anil Gaonkar’s firm grounder from entering the net.

Substitute Akash Sanadi was unlucky in the 66th minute to see his shot struck with venom hit the top post after being put through by Lloyd Cardozo with Vasco keeper Amit Biswas completely beaten.

Both teams needing a win pushed more men forward where Joyson Gauncar who after missing a couple of sitters finally managed to beat keeper Amit Biswas with a clever placement from a cross delivered by Alston Camotio to give his side the lead.

In the closing minutes, Vasco squandered a golden opportunity of wiping out the deficit. Substitute Raju Padashi teed up Suraj Mondal upfront who in turn rolled the ball to a well-positioned Bibetta Radhakrishnan who to everyone’s astonishment failed in hitting the target from handshaking distance.