MAPUSA: Vasco Sports Club registered an easy 3-1 win over Panjim Footballers in the U-20 TACA Goa League One match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Wednesday.
Panjim coach Micheal Dias made four changes to his side which lost against Goan FC in the previous
match as Abhyuday Sabharwal, Kashiram Pompurphekar, Anselm D’Souza and Casel De Souza made into the cut, while Vasco coach Eban Mesquita had fielded four of the Goa Professional league players including
their captain Schubert Pereira. Flan Gomes, Somnath Patil and Lenny Fernandes were the other GPL players for the Port Towners.
Panjim had got a walkover in the last match against FC Bardez as the Pink Brigade failed to be present at the venue, whereas Vasco were defeated Salgaocar FC by 2-0 in the last match.
The match started with an attacking play from the Port Towners as they took just three minutes to create the first potent chance of the match as Flan Gomes brilliantly setup Traus Barreto with just the keeper to beat but the Panjim keeper Karol Soares pushed his flick for a corner.
After some probing attacks, Vasco finally broke the deadlock in the 19th minute as Klusner Pereira sent a perfect lob pass to Flan from the mid-way line, the winger later covered some ground and beat the keeper Karol with a neat placement to take his side into the lead.
Down by the goal, Panjim regrouped and came out all attacking but the Vasco defenders stood tall to keep their side safe.
In the 38th minute, Jesloy Moniz had an opportunity to double Vasco’s lead when he was in commanding position to score but keeper Karol brilliantly blocked the striker, however, taking advantage of the loose ball, Flan quickly got hold of the ball and finished in the back of the net, making it 2-0 for the Port Towners.
The start of the second half, witnessed a lot of action as Panjim reduced the margin with just five minutes in the second half when Aman Govekar blasted in from inside the box to make it 1-2 for Panjim.
However, Klusner and Somnath combined well in the very next minute to restore Vasco’s two-goal lead as Somnath placed the ball home after receiving an inch-perfect lofted pass from the midfielder.
Aman had another chance in the 66th minute to once again reduce the margin but this time he failed to keep his shot on target from close with the Vasco keeper Kartik Dessai completely out of position. A minute later, his teammate Richard Cardoz shot the ball wide from the edge of the box.
A few minutes later, Dattaraj Gaonkar sent a through ball to Anselm in the box but Vasco keeper Kartik came with a brilliant block to keep his side away from danger.
