MAPUSA: Vasco Sports Club staring at relegation put up a brave fight to register a 1-0 win over Salgaocar Football club in the GFA’s Professional League match played at Duler stadium, here, on Saturday.
The all-important goal for the Port Towners came in the first half through Micky Vaz to give three valuable points in their fight for relegation.
Both teams started the proceedings on the front note and it needed the early attention of Salgaocar keeper Jason D`Mello to keep out the attempts from Sanwil D`Costa and Nigerian Olumide Adewale from finding the net.
Salgaocar had the first chance in the 15th minute when a dangerous cross whipped into the box by Godfrey Mascarenhas found Devendra Murgaonkar whose snap shot was well kept out by the diving Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa.
After a midfield duel, Vasco got the breakthrough goal in the 38th minute which was an absolute cracker from Micky Vaz who on receiving a pass from Anil Gaonkar bent the ball into the far corner leaving no chance to keeper Jason D`Mello to give his side the lead.
Stung by the goal, the Green Brigade showed more urgency to get back on terms and it nearly came minutes before half time whistle but Flagan Rodrigues’ diving header from a corner kick delivered by skipper Sanson Pereira was smartly stopped by keeper Sanju.
In need of a goal Salgaocar’s in charge Levino Anthony Pereira made a bold move by making all three substitutions on resumption of second half introducing medio Selwyn Miranda and strikers Stephen Satarkar and Andrus John to bolster the attack.
With Vasco cramping the penalty box with more men the Green Brigade found it difficult to find a way past the defense and had to resort to long rangers where U-20 Ribhav Sardesai rasping strike took a wicked deflection of the defender and went out for a corner and then around the 86th minute a vociferous strike by Andrus John struck the woodwork.
Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa brought a breathtaking and an important save to deny U 20 Shawn Pereira’s header from finding the net for Salgaocar in the injury time after being out through by Flagan.
At the end of the match, Vasco players lost their cool and strongly confronted referee Prasad Surlakar for playing more of the extra time wherein yellow card was shown to Micky Vaz and a direct red card on substitute Clarence Furtado.
“I am happy for now as we have cleared one hurdle for now. My boys played really good. They played as a team and snatched a point from them but I am unhappy with the referee. The fourth official showed 5 minutes as a additional time but nine minutes were played and when we questioned him after the match he showed red card to one of our player. If we make mistake, we are cautioned but about referees when they make mistake.” Vasco gaffer Micky Fernandes expressed after the match.
