Team Herald
MAPUSA: Vasco Sports Club rallied strongly from being two goals down to hold Calangute Association Sport Club to a 2-2 draw in the inaugural match of the GFA’s Professional league, at Duler Stadium, here, on Tuesday.
It was Calangute who led by a goal at half time, with Denson Fernandes and Mario Mascarenhas getting them the goals while Vasco showed great resilience and equalised through Sanwil D’Costa and Sheldon Pereira.
Calangute who had a poor outing in last year’s Professional league were a complete different side and after a midfield possession game surged ahead in the 26th minute.
U-20 Denson Fernandes got hold of a pass from Gourav Kankonkar who busted into the penalty box and cleverly dinked the ball over the onrushing Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa to give his side the lead.
Minute’s later, the Port side defender Sanwil D’Costa who had moved upfront could not sort out his feet in time to get a shot towards the Calangute goal.
In a swift counter-attack, a long ball from the Calangute defence was timely cleared by defender Amit Das before Denson and Gourav could pounce onto it and inflate further damage.
Crossing ends, Calangute made it 2-0 in the 48th minute when Mario Mascarenhas’ scorching free-kick from the left flank bulged into the net despite the valiant attempt by the diving Vasco keeper Sanju to make it 2-0.
Stunned by the goal, Vasco who have kept faith and retained their coach Micky Fernandes for this year’s campaign managed to pull a goal back quickly.
Sanwil D’Costa once again after receiving a pass from Mainoo Dadanuvoor moved upfront and after shrugging aside the challenge from Calangute defenders slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
The game came to live, and Vasco nearly got the equaliser in the 65th minute when substitute Raju Padashi’s corner was spilled out by Calangute keeper Ram Saroop and the ball rolled to Sanwil whose shot missed the target by inches.
Calangute should have sealed the match in the 81st minute but Vasco keeper Sanju came to his side’s rescue when he made himself big to stop Daryl Costa in getting past him off a long ball delivered into the box by Vineet Bugde.
Calangute who were looking at full three points were stung in the 87th minute when Vasco got the all-important equalising goal through U-20 Sheldon Pereira who beat keeper Ram Saroop with a neat placement to make it 2-2.
Sheldon almost got the winning goal for Vasco in the closing minutes but just could not keep his header goal wards from a cross delivered by Raju.
Vasco coach Micky Fernandes was very much content with today’s result. “Majority of his players played in GPL for the first time and coming back into the match after being two goals down, the credit of getting a point should go the players concluded the coach,”said Micky.
“To surrender two goals lead and then missing two more close chances was very much disappointing. However playing first competitive match was always difficult, but concluded saying that his team would perform better in matches ahead,” said Calangute Association coach Severino Fernandes.
