MAPUSA: Vasco Sports Club played their heart out to squeeze past Goan Football Club by a hard fought 2-1 win in the GFA’s Taca Goa U-20 league organised by Goa Football Associaiton, played at Duler stadium, on Friday.
Vasco did have the upper hand in the first half of play where they went into the breather with 2-1 lead. Jesloy Moniz and Klusner Pereira scored for the Port Towners, while Sezwin Fernandes pulled a goal for the Goan FC.
The Young Gaurs had the first look at the rival goal when in the 8th minute as Sezwin Fernandes’ strike at the rival goal went over the crossbar.
Vasco lads once they settled themselves opened their tally in the 15th minute, when the skipper Shubert Pereira set up Jesloy Moniz just outside the 6-yard box whose tap at the goal had no answer from the Young Gaurs keeper Antonio Da Silva to give them the lead.
It did not take long for the Young Gaurs to get their equaliser which came in the 21st minute of play. Sezwin Fernandes dribbled past defender Manushawn Fernandes and latched a scorching right footer from just inside the penalty box into the goal.
In the 29th minute, Vasco Sports Club further consolidated their lead as Klusner Pereira scored a neat placement to the far corner of the goal to make it 2-1.
Trailing by a goal, the Young Gaurs time and again attacked the rival citadel with two close attempts at the goal brought them no success.
In the 33rd minute, Sweden’s perfect cross to Joybert Almeida inside the Vasco’s penalty box saw the latter shoot over the cross bar and minutes later Ivon Costa shot zoomed over the horizontal bar.
A glorious chance for an equaliser was squandered by the Young Gaurs in the 46th minute. Referee Gunjan Korgaonkar without any hesitation awarded a penalty when Vasco’s Leny Fernandes tackled Sweden Fernandes inside the penalty box.
Sweden’s strike from the penalty spot was blocked by keeper Kartek Dessai and the ball travelled back to Sweden whose strike hit the side goal post.
On crossing ends, Goan Football Club continued on their onslaught in search of the equaliser.
However, it was the Vasco keeper Kartek Dessai who proved a hard nut to be cracked under pressure as he made three good saves from close to deny Vincy Baretto, Sezwin Fernandes and Veegan Ferrao from scoring.
In the entire second half, the Port Towners had just one good chance to further increase their lead but Young Gaurs keeper Antonio Da Silva thwarted Clifton Gonsalves in one-to-one situation.
In the 93rd minute, referee Gunjan sent off Goan FC coach Clifford Miranda for uttering abusive language from the players’ bench, as he failed to keep his temper in check seeing some decisions from the referee not to his liking.
