Vasco SC book first win, pip Calangute Association in GPL

Ravish Narvekar

The Port Towners inflicted first defeat on the Beachside who were unbeaten in the last four matches.

Savlon Fernandes' first-half goal earned Vasco Sports Club their first points in the Goa Professional League 2022-23 as they secured a solitary-goal win over Calangute Association in a match played at Duler Stadium on Friday evening.

Calangute had two changes to their side which held Churchill Brothers FC in the last match as Atmaram Jadhav and Jovel Martin found their names in the starting XI for the Beachside. On the other hand, Altamash Sayed was the lone change for the Port Towners who went down to Dempo SC in their previous match.

Vasco who were without a win this season made an attacking start to the match and continuously raided Calangute's cathedral on several occasions. They came close to scoring in the 6th minute when rival defender Umesh Pujar brought down Vasco forward Felix Chidi just outside the box to give away a freekick in the dangerous area. However, Vasco's Khrawkupar Tamu saw his strike miss the target narrowly.

Calangute also had an opportunity to surge ahead in the 14th minute when their Cameroon forward Junior Carret got on the loose ball and darted in the box but failed to keep his shot on target with a just rival keeper to beat. At the other end, Vasco forward Felix Chidi snatched the ball from a Calangute defender and entered the box but could not shoot past their keeper Presley Mascarenhas from close.

The Port Towners came with back-to-back attacks in the next five minutes as first Felix nicely cut past an opponent to enter the box and found Savlon Fernandes infront of the goal but the midfielder could not make from the opportunity. A very next minute, Savlon who had a ball possession danced past a few opponents in the box and made a short pass to Cavin Lobo who tried to find Felix at the far post but Calangute defender Melwin Lobo made the timely clearance.

The Port Towners were awarded another free-kick just outside the box but this time Cavin saw his set piece miss the frame by a whisker. They showed urgency to find the net and came with continuous attacks on the rivals but the defence line of the Beachside stood tall every time. In one of these, Vasco midfielder Prajwal Ghadi made a superb through pass to Felix but this time also the Nigerian forward could not find the net from inside the box.

After back-to-back attacks, the Port Towners finally breach Calangute's defence in the 37th minute when Felix made a short pass to Savlon whose powerful strike deflected off Calangute defender Umesh and beat their keeper to settle in the goal.

Vasco should have doubled their lead just before the halftime whistle when Felix smartly chested down a long clearance by his teammate and set up Prajwal in the box but the U20 winger shot wide from close.

Both the gaffers made changes at halftime as Nitish Hazra and Abraham Fernandes replaced Melwin Lobo and Kunal Virnodkar for the Calangute. Whereas U20 Prajwal made way for Kartik Rana in Vasco's XI.

The Port Towners started the second session in a similar fashion and troubled rival defenders at regular intervals. However, it were Calangute who came close to scoring on a couple of occasions. First, Atmaram sent a low cross in the box to find their forward Carret in the box but Vasco defender Kuldeep Kumar clear the danger. A minute later, Abraham found himself in a commanding position inside the box but the substitute midfielder's shot deflected off Vasco's defender and went out for a corner.

Vasco's Cavin should have doubled the lead at the hour mark when an inch-perfect through pass from Ganesh Thakur set up Cavin in the box but the lad saw his curling strike rebound off the crossbar. Another opportunity came in their way within the next five minutes as Calangute's Umesh made a reckless tackle on Cavin just outside the box where referee awarded a free-kick to the Port Towners where Altamash smartly found Kuldeep in the goalmouth but his touch from point-blank range could not find the net.

The Port Towners wasted another goal-scoring opportunity in the 77th minute as Cavin made a defence-splitting through pass substitute forward Kartik but rival keeper Presley came off his line to thwart the forward in a one-on-one situation. Another opportunity went into vain for Vasco in the dying minutes as Kartink sent a pass to Felix in the goalmouth but this time the Nigerian forward saw a tap rebound off the goalpost.

The Beachside also tried hard to find the equaliser in the last minutes of the match but Vasco's defence led by their skipper and Man of the Match Kuldeep Kumar along with Tamu, Chirag Mardolkar and Suman Lepcha made sure no rival breach them in the final minutes.