Team Herald
MAPUSA: Vasco Sports Club came from a goal down to register a commanding 4-1 win over Churchill Brothers in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium here on Thursday.
Manas Sarkar opened the tally for the I-League side, while Nigerian forward John Nnanna and Minesh Kunkolkar scored in the quick succession to lead 2-1 at the halftime. Schubert Pereira and Franky Oliveiro added the tally in the second half to confirm three points for the Port Towners.
Vasco who suffered defeat against Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in the previous match were seen with two changes in the starting XI as Deryl Endro and Franky were back in the line-up. On the other hand, Churchill head coach Mykola Shevchenko almost named the same playing XI from the last match draw against Corps of Signals, except for the Israil Gurung who made way for Manas in the squad.
Both the teams started well as they cancelled out each other on many occasions in the first 25 minutes. In between these, Churchill were lucky to walk away safely in the 8th minutes their defender clearly handled the ball inside the penalty box, but referee Jose Rebello surprised the Port Towners overlooking the incident. A few minutes later Vasco skipper Schubert saw his powerful shot miss the target by hairline distance.
Churchill opened their account in the 28th minutes when Alber Gonsalves’ cut-back pass found Manas in the box who later banged it from close which hit the inside of the crossbar before dropping in the goal.
The Port Towners refused to give up and came back strongly scoring an equaliser within next seven minutes as Nigerian striker Nnanna powerful shot from the top of the box hit the far post before entering the goal, restoring the parity for Vasco.
Pumped up by the equaliser, Vasco came out all attacking and took the lead in the 37th minutes when Minesh’s long-ranger deflected off Churchill defender Rahul Kumar’s head and entered the goal outreaching Churchill custodian Jayanth Kumar’s hands who was heading in the opposite direction to clear the danger.
Churchill coach Shevchenko replaced both the U-20 players Arvind Silva and Sevlon Cardozo bringing in Franko Paul and Valerio Rodrigues at the halftime. Whereas, Anil Gaonkar came in for Vasco’s injured Nigerian forward Nnanna.
In the 50th minutes, Anil had the best chance to further increase their lead when Minesh found him in the goalmouth with a fine cross from the deep flank, but the winger shot wide.
A few minutes later, Churchill’s Valerio, Manas and Joshuah Vaz combined well in a move where they almost beat every opponent but Joshuah saw his shot rebound off the crossbar.
In the counter-attack, Vasco inflated their lead when their skipper Schubert brilliantly cut past a defender and went for the glory from the edge of the box, which entered the top left making it 3-1 for his side.
He had another chance in the very next minutes as Anil once again made a curling cross in the box, but the skipper’s shot just went over the crossbar.
At the hour mark, Franky shot past keeper Jayanth to make it 4-1 from inside the box after Shubert brilliantly set up him with a short pass in the box.
The later part of the match witnessed attacking football from the I-League side, but could not make the difference as Vasco defender led by Treyson D’Costa along with Minesh, Leny Fernandes and Myran Pereira cleared every danger to keep his side safe till the fulltime whistle.
