Vasco hold Mohammedans

Vasco hold Mohammedans
Vasco…1               M Sporting…1
Sesa…1                      HAL…1
2nd div i-league
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
MAPUSA, MAY 24
Vasco Sports Club failed to qualify for next season’s I-League after drawing 1-1 with Mohammedan Sporting in Bangalore on Monday.
In an earlier match, Sesa Football Academy drew with HAL, Bangalore 1-1 which meant Vasco’s fate was decided before they drew with Mohammedans.
HAL qualified alongwith ONGC for the 4th edition of the National League which now becomes a 16-team tournament.
Vasco finished third, collecting 10 points from seven matches while Sesa finished with three points drawing three and losing four.
Sesa knew they have fallen short of qualifying but were determined to leave the competition with at least one win. They were also aware that a win today against HAL could have helped Vasco to qualify.
Sesa took the lead in the 29th minute when Selwyn Fernandes headed in off Israel Gurung’s cross.  HAL’s Satish Kumar scored the equaliser before the break through a solo effort dodging past two defenders and burying the ball past the Sesa goalkeeper with a low drive.
Sesa were missing key defenders throughout the second stage of the tournament and were also playing without their star striker Marcus Mascarenhas.
Sesa coach Clifford Chukuwuma stated, “Today we did not play any different from our earlier matches. I am happy with how my boys played. They have learnt a lot and I am confident we will return much stronger in the next season.”
A dejected Vasco team took the field with Joel Sequeira scoring in the 35th minute. In the 67th minute, Jyoti Kumar equalised for Mohammedans.
Speaking to Herald, Vasco manager Gavin Araujo said, “Throughout the tournament I felt we played well. We won three matches and lost two against teams which qualified. Today, we could have won but our boys already knew that we did not qualify and were disappointed.”