the goan I network
DULER
Vasco Sports Club fought gallantly to hold Panjim Footballers to a 1-1 draw in the 19th round match of Goa Professional League, organised by GFA, under floodlights here on Saturday.
After the drawn encounter, Vasco SC have 17 points from 15 matches, while Panjim Footballers are on 15 points from 15 matches.
Panjim Footballers in-charge Savio Vaz, after his team’s win against FC de Bardez, made just one change in his starting line-up, U-20 player Chandan Gawas starting upfront. At the other end, Vasco coach Eban Misquita, after his team’s loss at the hands of Corps of Signals, brought two changes -- keeper Suresh Lamani and midfielder Vasseba Toure.
It was Port Towners that had the first look at the rival goal in the very 5th minute but Panjim keeper Gurpreet Singh came with a breathtaking save to collect Schubert Pereira strike from close. At the other end in the 8th minute, Panjim Footballers were awarded a penalty by referee Chandrashekhar Shirodkar from a clumsy tackle by Vasco keeper Suresh Lamani on Israeli Fady Riad inside the penalty box. Fady made no mistake to score from the spot, 1-0.
As the match progressed, Vasco keeper twice came to his team’s rescue as he blocked fierce strikes to deny Fady Riad from scoring. However finally in the 41st minute, Port Towners levelled terms from a brilliant solo effort of medio Anil Gaoncar, to make it 1-1.
On resumption of play, in the very 51st minute, Panjim’s Clive Miranda tackled Flan Gomes inside the penalty box, where referee, after long hesitation and strong appeal from the Vasco players, pointed to the dreaded spot. However, Franky Oliveiro’s strike from the spot was brilliantly saved by keeper Gurpreet.
Panjim Footballers were camped inside the rival territory for the next quarter but Israeli Fady Riad saw two of his strikes being blocked by keeper Suresh while the next travelled wide. Their bad luck continued as two more chances were missed. Substitute Prisco Moura’s shot was blocked by keeper Suresh, while Mahesh Kumar’s thundering 40-yard strike hit the horizontal bar.
At the other end, Vasco’s skipper Schubert saw two of his efforts miss the target narrowly. In the 86th minute, a 25-yard shot by Daryl Endro was smartly blocked with a full stretched diving save by the Panjim keeper.
PLAYING TODAY
Corps of Signals vs Goan Football Club, Duler stadium, 6 pm
