PANJIM: Francisco Fernandes scored a 78th minute match-winner for Vasco Sports Club to ensure full points following their 2-1 win over Guardian Angel Sports Club in the Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa.
Earlier, Gopi Raghunath Gad had given the Curhorem side an early 3rd minute lead which was cancelled by Chirag Mardolkar for Vasco.
Guardian Angel SC were off to a dream start as they scored in the third minute through Gopi Raghunath Gad. The lad came from the right flank in the central area and struck a powerful shot which had no answer from Luis Barreto.
Vasco SC continued to dominate in the midfield but lacked the end result. However, at the half hour mark they managed to get what they lacked –the final touch. A long cross from the left flank by a Vasco midfielder Bersal Viegas found Chirag Mardolkar who made no mistake to tap the ball home past the Guardian Angel keeper Oswin Rodrigues, 1-1.
Coming from the water break, Guardian looked for immediate reply, resorting through long range shots. Sahil Bhokare tried his luck from distance which was easily dealt by former ISL custodian Luis Barreto.
There was a moment of magic from Sahil when he danced his way past three Vasco players, however, just before he could pull the trigger he was brought down in the box by a Vasco defender. Though there were penalty claims by GASC, the referee showed no interest in the same.
In the second half , Vasco SC scored from a counter attack wherein Francisco Fernandes placed the ball past the Guardian Angel keeper from outside the box.
In the dying minutes of the game, Guardian Angel SC’s Nicholas Rodrigues slammed a powerful drive from inside the box which was dealt by Vasco custodian Luis. Vasco’s Joshua D’Silva missed a couple of chances late in the game.
