MAPUSA
Vasco Sports Club registered a hard-fought 2-1 win over Goan Football Club in the GFA's Taca Goa U-20 League organised by GFA, at Duler stadium here on Friday.
Though the match was contested on an equal footing at the start of the match, the Port Towners continued to have better of the ball possession and more attempts at the rival goal. Jesloy Moniz and Klusner Pereira scored for the Port Towners, while Sezwin Fernandes pulled a goal back for Goan FC before they went for the lemon break.
The young Gaurs had an early attempt from Sezwin Fernandes at the rival goal which missed the target narrowly. After much probing, Vasco lads broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when their skipper Shubert Pereira found Jesloy Moniz just outside the 6-yard box and the latter finished clinically, 1-0.
However it did not take long for the young Gaurs to equalise. In the 21st minute, Sezwin Fernandes managed to get the better of defender Manushawn Fernandes just inside the penalty box and finished it with a power-packed right footer, 1-1. But Vasco reclaimed the lead in the 29th minute after Klusner Pereira darted inside the penalty box and brilliantly placed the ball to the far corner of the goal, 2-1.
Goan FC pressed for the equaliser and two of their attempts at the goal went in vain. In the 33rd minute, Sweden sent a perfect cross to a well positioned Joybert Almeida inside the Vasco's penalty box but the latter shot over the crossbar. A long ranger from Ivon Costa then went just past the top side post.
In the 46th minute, Vasco's Leny Fernandes was caught in the act of tackling Sweden Fernandes, prompting referee Gunjan Korgaonkar to point to the penalty spot. Sweden strike from the spot was though blocked by keeper Kartek Dessai and the ball travelled back to Sweden, whose shot hit the
side goal post.
On crossing over, the young Gaurs went all out in search of the equaliser, coming with a series of attacks on the
rival citadel.
Substitute Vincy Baretto's hot-blooded shot from outside the penalty box was blocked with a full-stretched diving save by keeper Kartek Dessai, who again came to his team's rescue to stop a fierce shot from close by Sezwin Fernandes.
The next 20 minutes of play was restricted to midfield but the match came back to life in the last 10 minutes. A neat floater from the right flank by Jonathan Cardozo was headed at the goal by Veegan Ferrao but keeper Kartek made a superb save.
At the other end, Gaurs keeper Antonio Da Silva thwarted Clifton Gonsalves in a one to one situation. In the 93rd minute, referee Gunjan sent off Goan FC coach Clifford Miranda for firing abusive language from the players' bench.
Two more goal-bound attempts from the young Gaurs went begging with Veegan Ferrao's free kick being swayed over the post by Vasco keeper and then Veegan's shot from just on top of the penalty box going over the horizontal bar.
