Team Herald
MAPUSA: Mathew Colaco’s late strike in the second half enabled Vasco Sports Club to register a narrow 1-0 win over Calangute Association Sports Club in the 12th round match of the GFA’s Professional League, at Duler stadium, here, on Saturday.
Calangute who had begun this year’s league brightly seem to have lost their way in the mid-way phase as this is their third consecutive loss and remain stuck on 15 points.
On the other hand, their opponents Vasco too had lost two consecutive matches of the ongoing GPL and Saturday’s win was a morale boosting as they moved to 10 points.
Mathew Colaco got the all-important goal for Vasco in the second session after both the teams were tied goalless at the end of first half.
Vasco were off their blocks quickly and nearly opened the scoring in the 19th minute but were denied by the brilliance of Calangute keeper Sanji Bugde who kept out Shree Bibetta Radhrkrishnan’s stinging shot from entering the net.
Minutes into the match, Suraj Mondal had the ball in the back of the net for Vasco but it was rightly cancelled out by referee Tejas Nagvenkar for a foul on Calangute’s defender Gourav Kankonkar.
Suraj Mondal was a menace to the Calangute defence and three minutes later failed to get a decent touch to a dangerous cross flashed across the goal by U-20 Altaf Navaloor.
Calangute who were pegged back into their own half had the first decent chance in the closing minutes of the first half when Alesh Sawant sent a long ball in penalty box but keeper Amit Biswas was on alert to the danger who left his charge quickly before striker Daryl Costa could get to the end of it and fire the ball into the net.
Changing ends, Vasco in charge Micky Fernandes made a positive substitution by bringing in Treyson D’Costa and Ivorian Bema Coulibaly to bolster the attack but were nullified by the strong Calangute defence of Krishnanath Shirodkar and Joaquim Carvalho.
After a midfield tussle, in the 67th minute Sanwil D’Costa was unlucky to see his header strike the Calangute defender and go out for a corner after being found by Anil Gaonkar with a long ball.
Daryl Costa who was very impressive for Calangute in the initial matches was twice denied by the Vasco keeper Amit Biswas from finding the net in quick succession.
Vasco finally got the all-important goal in the 78th minute.
Mathew Colaco getting hold off a pass from Suraj Mondal darted towards the penalty box and brilliantly beat the keeper Sanji Bugde with a deft placement to the delight of the entire players and the dugout.
Stung by the late goal and with time running out, Calangute pushed more men forward and nearly restored parity when substitute Domnic Fernandes busted down the right flank and send in a low cross which was well read by defender Mainoo who cleared the ball out before it could reach to unmarked Gourav Kankonkar.
Meanwhile, at Ella ground, Sporting Clube de Goa and Dempo Sports Club played out a 1-1 draw.
Alber Gonsalves scored for the Golden Eagles in the first half and Clive Miranda equalised in the second session.
