Goa Pro League: Vasco hold Panjim Footballers to 1-1 draw

Joaquim Abranches rescued a point for the Port Towners with a goal from the spot.

Vasco Sports Club came from a goal down to hold Panjim Footballers to a 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Saturday. Joyson Gauncar scored in the 10th minutes to give an early lead to the Capital City side, while skipper Joaquim Abranches scored from the spot in the 76th minutes to rescue a point from Panjim.

Vasco gaffer Micky Fernandes made few changes to his side which lost to Salgaocar FC in the last match as Savlon Fernandes, Alson Fernandes, Denil Rebello and keeper Risven Fernandes were back in the XI for the Port Towners. On the other hand, the Capital city side also made few changes to their starting XI following a narrow defeat against Velsao SCC in the previous match as their coach Thome Alex Alvares named Akash Sanadi, Krishna Gawas, Alent Colaco, Akram Yadwad and Preston Rego in the lineup.

Panjim started the match on an attacking note and came close to score in the very 2nd minute as their U20 Pandurang Gauns went for glory from inside the box but Vasco defender Warren Pereira came with a timely block at the cost of a corner. Vasco replied to them with a swift attack as Joaquim Abranches made a square pass to Francisco Fernandes who tried his luck from the distance but his goalbound strike was nicely fisted over the crossbar by Panjim keeper Preston.

At the other end, the Capital City side surge ahead in the 10th-minute as Joyson Gauncar made a brilliant one-to-one with Lloyd Cardozo who set him up in the box. The midfielder easily shot past Vasco keeper Risven from close to put Panjim into an early lead.

Panjim should have doubled their lead within three minutes after taking the lead as Krishna sent a long cross to Alent who covered some ground to enter the box but Vasco keeper Risven came off his line to thwart him in a one-on-one situation.

The Port Towners took some time to regroup and came with a series of attacks in the last few minutes of the session. First, Francisco made a through pass to Anil Gaonkar in the box but Panjim custodian Preston came off his line to collect the ball on time. A few minutes later, Savlon Fernandes made a fine cross to feed Anil in the box but the Panjim defence line cleared the danger before the Vasco forward could do any damage.

The Port Towners had two more chances before halftime, as first, Denil sent a perfect freekick to Kuldeep Kumar in the box but the lad headed wide from close. A few minutes later, Anil made a brilliant through pass to Joaquim who went for the glory after cutting past a defender but his goalbound strike deflected off Panjim defender and went out.

Down by a goal, the Port Towners regrouped at the lemon break and came out all guns buzzing. Their first potent attack of the second session came in the 49th minute as Denil sent a corner to Joaquim who headed towards the far post but Panjim midfielder Pandurang cleared the goalbound strike off the goalline.

Joaquim missed another great opportunity within the next three minutes as this time Anil came with a curling cross to the forward who failed to keep his header on target as the ball went out for goal kick. Six minutes later, Francisco set up Joaquim with a through pass in the box who saw his strike pushed for a corner by Panjim keeper Preston.

The Vasco forward was once again unlucky in the 66th minute as Denil sent a corner to Kuldeep who cut it back to Joaquim but the forward saw his header rebound off the crossbar. They wasted another opportunity in the 73rd minute as substitute Hafiz Khan made a defence-splitting through pass to Joaquim Abranches who just had to beat Panjim keeper to make it all square but the striker was brilliantly blocked by Panjim custodian Preston in a one-on-one.

However, the Port Towners were awarded a penalty kick in the 76th minute when Akaram Yadwad pushed down Anil in the box where referee Melwin D’Costa quickly pointed towards the penalty spot. Skipper Joaquim who missed several chances in the match stepped forward and gave chance to their teammates and officials to celebrate with a neat goal from the spot making it 1-1.

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