Sporting Goa and Vasco share spoils in crosstown derby of GPL

The Port Towners almost concreted their place in the top half in the table

Sporting Clube de Goa came from a goal down to hold Vasco Sports Club to an entertaining 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium earlier today. Sanwil D’Costa scored from the spot to take the Port Towners into the lead, while, Cajetan also converted the penalty to level back for the Flaming Orange.

Vasco coach Micky Fernandes made two changes to his side which lost against Dempo SC in the last match as U-20 winger Darren Rebello and Sanwil D’Costa were back for the Port Towners, while Sporting also had the same number of changes following their massive 8-1 win over Bardez FC as goalkeeper Melroy Fernandes and U-20 midfielder Joston Cardoz found their names in the starting XI for the Flaming Orange.

Vasco should have taken the lead in the very 4th minute when Vasco skipper Penn Orji found the loose ball outside the box who went for the glory from the distance but his striker missed the target by hairline distance with opponents’ keeper Melroy completely out of position. A few minutes later, Vasco came with another swift attack from the right flank as Moises D’Sa made a long pass to striker Beneston Barretto in the box but Sporting keeper Melroy came off the line to collect the same before the striker could do any damage to his side.

Sporting took 23 minutes to create their first potent chance off the match as Alesh Sawant’s corner was headed in the goal by Cajetan Fernandes but Vasco midfielder Moises cleared it off the goalline. The rebound was again struck by U-20 Joston but Moises once again blocked it to keep his side safe.

They had another chance in the 27th minutes when Alesh made a defence-splitting through pass to their U-20 striker Stendly Fernandes in the box but the forward could not put power in his shot from 6-yards as Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa easily collected the same.

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A few minutes later, assistant referee Purushotham Mapari gave the off side the for Vasco’s Moises when he even not had crossed the halfway line where referee Tejas Nagvenkar chose to ignore the situation despite being very close to overrule the same.

Vasco came with another swift attack from the right flank as skipper Penn found Beneston at the top of the box with a fine cross but the striker shot wide. Sporting replied with a quick attack as Marcus Mascarenhas set up Stendly with just keeper to beat but Vasco custodian Thapa surged ahead to thwart the U-20 striker in a one-on-one situation.

With just a minute to the halftime whistle, Sporting had another chance as substitute Mauvin Borges went for the glory from the edge of the box but his strike rebound off the crossbar.

On changing the ends, Sporting were awarded a freekick just outside the box but Vasco keeper Thapa made a diving effort to push Cajetan’s shot for a corner. At the other end, Sporting’s skipper Clemente Joseph brought down Vasco’s substitute striker Henry Ezeh as referee Tejas took some time to point towards the penalty spot. Vasco defender Sanwil sent Sporting keeper Melroy the wrong way from the spot kick as Vasco took the lead in the 63rd minutes.

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Sporting denied to give up and made several attacks on the opponents and almost found the equaliser in the 72nd minute when Cajetan’s freekick was nicely headed to Mauvin by Marcus in the goalmouth but Vasco keeper Thapa came with a timely punch to clear the danger on the goalline.

Down by a goal, Sporting coach Mateus Costa used their remaining two substitutions bringing in Akeraj Martins and Victorino Fernandes. Sporting finally managed to level back from the spot kick in the 75th minute as Vasco mideo Rugved Yeole push down Sporting striker Marcus in the box to give away the penalty where Cajetan made no mistake to convert the spot kick to make it 1-1 for his side.