PANAJI
Vasco Sports Club ended their Selvel Goa Professional League campaign on a high with a 2-1 comeback win over FC Goa in their final league match of the season at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Wednesday.
Vasco’s Denil Rebello scored an injury-time match-winner after Mathew Colaco had cancelled out a goal by FC Goa’s Delton Colaco. The Port Towners finished the league campaign with 16 points while FC Goa remained on 15 points with a game in hand.
There were numerous changes in both sides as FC Goa handed a debut to Hritik Tiwari while Lalhmangaihsanga, Sarineo Fernandes and Joybert Almeida returned to the starting XI. Meanwhile, Vasco SC made six changes as Sanju Thapa started in goal.
FC Goa were dominant from the word go and had the first real chance in the eighth minute but were denied by a goal-line save from Warren Pereira. Vasco keeper Sanju failed to collect Kapil Hoble’s cross which then Delton capitalised on and sent the ball goalwards only to see it being cleared off the line.
While FC Goa came close, Vasco came more closer when Denil Rebello set Joaquim Abranches through on goal. The veteran striker covered some distance and fired a shot that came off the post. The Vasco custodian made crucial interceptions in the 38th minute when he pushed Delton’s cross out and then made a superb save to deny Sarineo from inside the box. At the other end, Vasco had a chance to surge ahead but Mathew Colaco, who had just the keeper to beat, shot straight at him.
The second half started on a slower note as the teams were restricted to a midfield battle. However, at the hour mark, the match took an ugly turn when FC Goa goalkeeping coach Sugitesh Mandrekar pushed Vasco SC's Desmon Gama at the touchline, compelling Vasco coach Micky Fernandes to get into n altercation with the FC Goa officials. Referee Sunil Nanodkar flashed straight red to Micky for using abusive language while Sugitesh was warned with a yellow card.
Vasco soon conceded the goal in the 66th minute when Kapil Hoble sent a long ball in the box from the right wing, where a Vasco defender managed to get a touch of his head but the ball travelled to Delton Colaco, who fired the first shot past Vasco custodian Sanju Thapa.
But Vasco had an immediate reply, scoring the equaliser from a counter-attack. In the 67th minute, Denil Rebello set Mathew through on goal and the latter kept his composure to score past the FC Goa custodian, making amends for his earlier misses.
The Port Towners scored the match-winner in the stoppage time when Francis Fernandes set up Denil Rebello inside the box and the last-named scored with a composed finish to record a perfect comeback win.
Vasco nearly scored the third but Mathew’s goal was ruled offside by the assistant referee. Vasco’s Sanwil D’Costa was sent off with a double booking for a two-footed challenge on an FC Goa player.
