Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Vasco Sports Club played their hearts out to stun defending joint champions Churchill Brothers Sports Club Reserves by 2-0 margin in the Goa Professional league played at Duler stadium here on Saturday.
A goal by Joaquim Abranches (9th min) and substitute Mathew Colaco (69th min) saw Port Towners secure full three points in their opening campaign.
The Port Towners started earnestly and opened there account in the ninth minute as U-20 Desmond Gama snatched the ball from Churchill’s left back Sumer Sehgal and after darting inside the penalty box sent a low cross at the face of the goal which was guided into the goal by skipper Joaquim Abranches to give his side the lead.
Stung by the reverse, Red Brigade mounted pressure and came thrice close in wiping out the one goal deficit.
A perfect cross by Mauvin Borges from the left flank saw overlapping Clinton Niasso kneed the ball over the Vasco’s crossbar to the dismay of his teammates.
Minutes later, a stinging 25-yard free-kick by Jouston Barbosa was collected by diving Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa.
In the injury time, Mauvin Borges collected a pass from his team mate and after covering some ground drilled a grounder at the far post but keeper Sanju brought a full stretched diving save.
On crossing over, Churchill’s coach Norberto Gonsalves brought Kins Mendes and U-20 Landan Mendonca from the bench, while coach Micky Fernandes used two of his substitution by bringing in Sheldon Pereira and Mathew Colaco .
In the 52nd minute, Jouston Barbosa collecting a pass from Ginminthang Hanging darted inside the penalty box and latched a left footer which was blocked by Vasco defender Kuldeep Kumar for a corner.
As the match progressed, Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa kept his cool to grab a weak shot by Clinton Niasso from close and minutes later blocked a fierce strike from outside the penalty box by skipper Velito D’Cruz.
While Red Machine did the attacking, the Port Towners netted a brace in the 69th minute, where a clever floater by Denil Rebello was controlled by substitute Mathew Colaco whose first touch at the ball saw the latter lob the ball over the advancing rival keeper into the unguarded goal to make it 2-0.
In the 80th minute, a cross by Landan was blocked by Vasco’s Anil Gaonkar and the ball travelled to substitute Trijoy Dias who shot skywards.
Four minutes later a stinging shot by Churchill’s Bersal Viegas from inside the penalty box hit the leg of his team mate Mauvin Borges and went out.
The Port Towners almost netted their third goal but keeper Sidharth Nair managed to tip the ball over the crossbar to deny Sheldon Pereira from scoring.
