PANJIM: Vasco Sports Club looked dejected after the full time whistle after sharing a point following their 1-1 draw in the Goa Football Association President’s Super League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Friday.
It wasn’t the first time Vasco SC felt they were robbed of a point, but this time it was yet another controversial decision from the official which denied them a goal at the death which should have won them three points. Vasco’s Francis Fernandes had scored the equaliser in the second session to cancel out Kunal Salgaonkar’s 38th minute lead for Sesa FA.
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In the closing stages of the game, in a bid to thwart danger from a long ball in the area, Sesa FA keeper Roanal Gaunkar who rushed for the ball collided with his own defender Myran, and the ball fell to Savlon who was on course to scoring the winner, but was stopped by the referee’s whistle stopping the play. A bizarre call which annoyed the entire Vasco SC fan base and the officials.
Vasco SC officials felt there were numerous decisions which went against their team and the story has been the same throughout the league. “This is the worst state of football in Goa especially because of the referee and their decisions,” states an agitated Vasco Sports Club Director Football Ravish Narvekar.
“I have been vocal about this for the last four years since the time I took charge of Vasco. I always suggested to the association to do something for the referee, even if the referees make mistakes the match commissioners cover them and never write against them,” added Ravish.
“If we speak against them, the association issues us a show cause notice and the same thing happened in the last match against Dempo. I don’t think referee Tejas Nagvenkar and Sunil Nanodakar suit in a referee’s AIFF panel,” stated Ravish who felt the experienced officials failed to take proper decisions on the pitch.
Though it was Sesa FA who started more comfortably, it was Vasco who had the first shy at goal when Bersal Viegas attempted a shot from a distance only to see it blocked by a defender. Later, Beevan saw his header go wide from inside the box.
At the other end, Omar Shetgaonkar had a chance to score but he shot wide after Kunal Salgaonkar had done the initial spade work. However, the latter finally broke the deadlock when Omkar played a perfect pass to Kunal, who this time kept his composure to score.
Vasco SC restored parity in the second session when Cavin Lobo sent in a perfect delivery in the area where Francis showed his experience in connecting the ball to send it at the back of the net to make it 1-1.
