PANAJI
Joaquim Abranches scored an 86th-minute match-winner as Vasco SC scored a narrow 1-0 win over Sesa FA in the Goa Football Association's Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Friday.
The Port Towners are now on six points while the Sesa FA remain on 1 point from three games.
It was a different Vasco SC from their previous match, which started with three U-20 players in the playing eleven and the youngsters did bring a lot of change in their game style. Coach Micky Fernandes' side attacked with numbers and defended well.
However, it was Sesa FA with the first attack on goal when Sandeep S played a short pass to Myron Borges at the top of the box. however, his curling effort was saved by the Vasco custodian Sanju Thapa.
Vasco came agonizingly close to scoring in the 14th minute when Francis Fernandes attempted a left-foot shot from inside the box but much to the dismay, his shot hit the woodwork.
Sesa FA who mainly relied on counters had a couple of decent runs into the rival territory by Myron Borges couldn't get the back of the net as Vasco's defence was proving to be a hard nut to crack.
At the half-hour mark, Vasco had yet another chance when Francis Fernandes set Demon Gama through on goal and the last-named with just the keeper shot a powerful strike from the box, but Sesa custodian Roanal Gaunkar brilliantly blocked his effort.
Sesa had a chance in the second half from a set-piece when they were awarded a freekick outside the box. Myron Borges sent in a cheeky cheap pass to Sameer Kashyap, who wasted a golden opportunity as he failed to connect to the ball from the goal-mouth.
Vasco kept creating chance after chance and once. In the 68th minute substitute, Joaquim Abranches played a defence-splitting through pass to Mathew Colaco, who beat Sesa FA's last man with his blistering run in the area and with just the keeper ahead, the lad drilled a low grounder from a tight angle which missed a target. Vasco missed yet another chance through Mathew when he was set through by Sanwil D'Costa.
Vasco SC scored in the 86th minute when Anil Gaonkar sent in a long ball in the box from the right to Joaquim Abranches who managed to get a touch of the ball before he collided with the rival keeper. However, the ball rolled into the goal. The referee had a talk with the assistant referee, who decided to allow the goal.
