MAPUSA: Vasco Sports Club put up a spirited performance to get the better of Corps of Signals 3-1 in the Goa Professional league match organised by GFA, played at Duler Stadium, here, on Tuesday.
With Tuesday’s win, Vasco Sports Club have 26 points from 18 matches while Corps of Signals stay on 16 points from 19 matches.
Rugved Yeole, Beneston Barretto, Sanwil D’Costa got the goals for the Port Towners who were leading 1-0 at half time while Kuldeep Kumar was on target for the Army men.
Vasco were up and running and in the third minute Nigerian Penn Orji’s shot from a distance hit the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
Signals were on the back-foot for most part of the match as Vasco kept creating chances time and again, Beneston Barretto got hold off a pass from Penn Orji who darted into the box and let go a low grounder which did not pose any problem to Signals keeper Niyas Mon.
Minutes later, Signals keeper Niyas sensing danger left his charge in nick of time to deny Aman Govekar in a one-to-one situation after being teed up by Penn with an intelligent pass.
Port Towners coach Micky Fernandes made a substitution by bringing in Nigerian Nna Henry Ezeh and it paid off as they broke the deadlock when Signals defender Nim Tshering Bhutia hackled him to the ground just outside the penalty box. Rugved Yeole who stepped forward brilliantly curled the free-kick over the defensive Army man wall.
Vishnu Chetri almost cancelled out the lead for Signals but his firm strike was acrobatically stopped by Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa in the added time.
Port Towners consolidated their lead in the 59th minute of the second half in a neat build up between Rugved and Penn Orji to release the ball to Beneston Barretto whose rasping shot from just outside the box crashed into the net to make it 2-0.
Sanwil D’Costa muffed up a glorious chance when he could not direct his placement goal wards after being freed up by the tireless Penn who had an outstanding match.
Signals set up a tense final ten minute when they pulled one back through a header by defender Kuldeep Kumar from a cross delivered by Romanjit Meelei to make it 2-1
However, Vasco held their nerves and scored the match-winning goal minutes later when Sanwil D’Costa’s stinging shot had no answer by the Army keeper to make 3-1
In the injury time, Signals nearly made it 3-2 but keeper Sanju who had nothing much to do used strong hands to stop Th Roshan Singh header from finding the net.
