Velsao down Vasco in GPL

Photo by: Anthony Fernandes

Ravish Narvekar

The Port Towners suffered their second straight defeat of the season.

Vasco Sports Club went down fighting to Velsao Sports & Cultural Club by a 2-1 margin in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Thursday evening. Velsao were leading at halftime by two goals thanks to Imran Khan (26’) & K Vinoth (45+2’). Chirag Mardolkar came off the bench in the second half to reduce the margin for Vasco in the 52nd minute.

The Vasco gaffer Micky Fernandes made numerous changes to his side which lost to Churchill Brothers in their first match as Francisco Fernandes was back in the lineup, while keeper Mohammed Shahanas, Khrawkupar Tamu, Altamash Sayed, Suman Lepcha and Nigerian forward Odili Felix Chidi made the first start for the Port Towners.

Whereas, Joliston Rebello making way for Velroy Carvalho was the lone change for Eban Mesquita’s side which has conceded 14 goals in their last five matches. Velsao had recently held FC Goa to a 1-1 draw in their last encounter.

The Port Towners had an early opportunity in the match when rival keeper Arnab Sharma came out of the box to clear the ball but failed to get on the ball where Vasco’s Francisco should have sent the ball in the empty net from outside the box but the experienced midfielder could not make out an easy chance. A few minutes later, Vasco’s Savlon Fernandes danced past the rival defence line but his cutback was cleared by Velsao skipper Ronaldo Pereira.

Vasco continue to dominate and came with two back-to-back raids on the rival cathedral. First, Ganesh darted in the box dribbling past two opponents but squandered an opportunity to take the lead from inside the 6-yard box. Two minutes later, the Nigerian forward set up Savlon inside the box with a beautiful lob pass where the winger sent a low cross to Prajwal Gadhi but the U20 midfielder could not connect with a just rival keeper to beat.

Velsao’s first shot came in the 25th minute as their U20 midfielder cut past a Vasco defender at the top of the box and went for glory from outside the box but his weak strike was easily collected by Vasco custodian Shahanas. However, Vasco custodian Shahanas had no answer to Velsao forward Imran Khan’s stiff grounder from outside the box as Velsao surged ahead in the 26th minute. U20 Climax Fernandes was the architect of the goal with an inch-perfect low cross from the flank.

Velsao’s K Vinoth should have doubled their lead in the 31st minute when he was left with just Vasco's keeper to beat but the forward shot wide from inside the box. Velsao wasted another goalscoring opportunity in the 38th minute as a fine long pass by their defence set up Vinoth with the just rival keeper but Vasco custodian Shahanas left his line to thwart the Velsao forward.

Vasco also wasted another opportunity just before the halftime whistle as a long freekick by Tamu found Felix at the edge of the box where the Nigerian forward set up Savlon with a fine header but once again midfielder shot over the crossbar. At the other end, Velsao punished the Port Towners and scored their second goal of the match as a through pass from Imran in the box was brilliantly connected into the goal by Vinoth to make it 2-0.

Despite being the dominant side in the major parts of the session, the Port Towners could not convert from easy opportunities as the Velsao went into the breather with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Vasco coach Micky made three substitutions at halftime as Altamash, Tamu and Cliford Costa made way for Cavin Lobo, Chirag Mardolkar and Irfan Khan. The changes brought in the pace in Vasco’s attacks as they came close to scoring in the very first minute of the session after receiving a fine pass from Chirag, Savlon cut past two defenders and found Felix but the Nigerian forward failed to connect from inside the box.

However, the Port Towners managed to reduce the margin in the 52nd minute through just-in Chirag. Cavin’s perfect corner was headed in the frame by Vasco skipper Kuldeep Singh but Velsao’s Climax made a goalline clearance. The ball again rolled to Cavin at the right flank. The midfielder this time found Chirag whose sparkling strike gave no chance to Velsao keeper Arnab making it 2-1.

Vasco almost found the equaliser in the 58th minute when Cavin’s inch-perfect through pass to Savlon who should have found the net from his first touch but delayed shot blocked by Velsao's defender. A few minutes later, Cavin came with another perfect through pass to Felix who easily cut past Velsao keeper Arnab but failed to keep his tap in the empty net.

The rest of the session witnessed Vasco trying hard to get back in the match, but some aimless strikes by their forwards and brilliant piece of defending from the Velsao’s last line restricted the Port Towners from finding the leveller.