Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Ten-man Salgaocar Football Club registered a solitary goal win over Vasco Sports Club in the GFA’s Professional League match, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Tuesday.
In their first leg encounter the Green Brigade thrashed Vasco 5-0.
Salgaocar FC now climb to third spot with 21 points from 10 matches while Vasco have 9 points from 10 matches and are at 8th place on the league table.
The only goal of the match came in the 74th minute of play through Kamo Stephane Bayl’s curling free-kick.
Salgaocar had the first look at the rival goal in the early 3rd minute of play when Liston Colaco set up Kamo Stephane Bayl right inside the Vasco goal area, but the Ivory Coast international failed to keep his cool in front of the goal.
The Portside man received a setback in the 18th minute when their first choice keeper, Jerson Pereira had to leave the field due to injury.
Salgaocar looked to take full advantage of the situation and stepped up the pace of their attacks, however stopper back Sudheesh Muthath did remarkably well to come with two goal line clearances to frustrate the opponents.
Couple of minutes later Gilbert Oliveira unleashed a powerful right footer which was neatly kept at bay by Vasco keeper Shilton.
Changing over Vasco keeper Shilton put up a brilliant display under the horizontal bar to thwart the series of raids initiated by Salgaocar.
First he tipped the Aslon Oliveira’s firm header over the horizontal bar and in the next minute came with a diving save to stop Kamo Stephane Bayl’s low strike from entering the nets.
After some midfield action keeper Shilton was once again tested but he proved apt for the task when he fisted Jovel Martin’s shot at the expense of a corner.
Salgaocar were reduced by a man in the 64th minute of play when Aslon Oliveira was given marching orders by referee Xavier Clemente for an unwarranted tackle on Vasco keeper Shilton.
After several failed efforts Salgaocar finally shot into the lead in the 74th minute of play when Kamo Stephane Bayl curled in his free-kick from the top of the 18-yard box to the far end of the Vasco goal, giving no chance to keeper Shilton, 1-0.
Salgaocar almost doubled their led in the 80th minute however Vasco’s Nagesh Naju managed to clear Gilbert’s shot before the ball cross the goalline.
The only close shave that the Vasco side had at scoring was in the 86th minute when Kingslee Fernandes sent a perfect pass to Jaison Vaz who failed to beat Salgaocar keeper Naveen in a one on one situation.
