the goan I network
DULER
Vasco Sports Club played their hearts out to register a fluent 3-1 win over Corps of Signals in a Goa Professional League match, organised by GFA, at Duler Stadium here
on Tuesday.
After the win, Vasco Sports Club have 26 points from 18 matches, while Corps of Signals stay on 16 points from 19 matches.
Both teams, having drawn their last first leg match at Navelim grounds 1-1, saw both the coaches make a number of changes in their starting XI. The Port Towners dominated and had a number of scoring chances, but managed to score just a goal by medio Rugved Yeole.
In the very third minute, a long ranger by Nigerian Penn Orji rebounded off the Signals horizontal bar. After some midfield tussle in the 17th minute, Penn Orji set up Beneston Barretto, who entering the penalty box, dribbled past a couple of rival defenders and drilled a low shot which was comfortably collected by Signals keeper Niyas Mon.
Four minutes later in the 21st minute, Vasco colts almost took the lead when Penn made a darting run right from the midfield and sent a through pass on the run to U-20 player Aman Govekar. But before the latter could get to the ball, keeper Niyas left his charge and thwarted Aman in a one-on-one situation.
Vasco coach Micky Fernandes brought on his second foreign signing, Nigerian Nna Henry Ezeh from the bench and the move paid dividends. Signals defender Nim Tshering Bhutia brought down Nna Henry Ezeh outside the penalty box. From the resultant direct free kick, medio Rugved Yeole scored a brilliant goal by curling his shot past the defensive wall of the Army men, 1-0. Signals had just one good look at the rival goal in the added-on time of the first session, but Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa flung to parry the ball for a corner, off a long strike by Vishnu Chetri.
On resumption of play, the Port Towners doubled their lead in the 59th minute from a smart build-up initiated by Rugved, who passed the ball to Penn Orji, who in turn set up Beneston Barretto inside the penalty box, who banged the ball into the back of the nylons from just outside the 6-yard box, 2-0.
Nigerian Penn, who was a thorn for the rival defenders, collected a pass from Sanwil D’Costa but surprisingly saw his placement from inside the penalty box miss the target. Another good chance went in vain for the Port Towners as rival keeper Niyas blocked a fierce shot from close to deny Beneston netting his brace.
Signals defender Kulpeep Kumar, who was cautioned for a hand ball by referee Chandrashekar Shirodkar in the 80th minute, rose high above the Vasco defenders to nod the ball into the goal, off a cross by Romanjit
Meelei, 2-1.
When it looked that the Army men were getting back in the match, the very next minute a 30-yard strike by Sanwil D’Costa crashed into the top corner of the goal to stun Signals, 3-1. In the injury time, Signals almost netted in their second goal but a close strong header by Th Roshan Singh off a cross by Vishnu Chetri was brilliantly blocked by keeper Sanju.
