Vasco outclass Panjim Footballers, climb to sixth position in Goa Pro League table

The Port Towners registered the third successive win on Sunday afternoon.

Benston Barretto and Nevil Soares came off the bench to help Vasco Sports Club to secure an easy 2-0 win over Panjim Footballers in the crosstown derby of the Goa Professional League played at Duler Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

With this win, Vasco climbed to the sixth position with 20 points from 16 matches, while Panjim has 11 points from as many outings. 

Vasco had an upper hand when both the team met last time as the Port Towners had registered an easy 2-0 win over the Capital City side.

Vasco gaffer Micky Fernandes made only one change to his side which edged Velsao SCC in the last match as Neville Albuquerque replaced Sanwil D’Costa in the starting XI, whereas, Panjim who suffered a narrow defeat against Churchill Brothers in the previous round had two changes as Delton Colaco and Joel Colaco found their names in playing XI for the Capital City side.

After an attacking play from the start, Vasco had the opportunity to open their tally in the 14th minutes when Moises D’Sa set up U-20 striker Aman Govekar with just Panjim keeper Sherwin Da Cunha at the stake but the forward shot wide from inside the box.

Panjim also tried to build pressure on the opponents with few swift attacks but wasted every chance with aimless shots from the distance.

Vasco had another chance in 25th minutes when Anil Gaonkar made an excellent through pass to Nigerian midfielder Penn Orji in the box who tried to find Aman with a square pass but Panjim defender Kunal Kankonkar made a timely interception to keep his side safe.

At the other end, Panjim midfielder Vallmiky Miranda made a brilliant through pass to Mahesh Kumar in the box but Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa came off the line to deny the winger.

Vasco had the best chance to surge ahead in the 34th minutes as their substitute strike Beneston Barretto who replaced Nigerian striker Henry Ezeh, was in the commanding position in the box but the forward shot was brilliantly blocked by Panjim custodian Sherwin. 

Goa Professional League table

Panjim started the second session on an attacking note as they just minute from the resumption to come close to scoring when Delton tried his luck from the top of the box but Vasco custodian Thapa collect his powerful strike.

Panjim suffered a blow in the 53rd minutes when they were reduced to 10-men as defender Joel was sent off for deliberately handling the ball.

The Port Towners took advantage of a man down and opened their tally within next four minutes as Penn found Beneston with a through pass in the box who cut past two defenders in the box and clinically finished the ball at the far post to make it 1-0 for Vasco.

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Ten minutes later, Vasco came with another swift attack from the right as Anil nicely curled the ball to Penn in the box but the Nigerian midfielder’s shot went wide.

Another golden opportunity was wasted by Port Towners in the 72nd minute when Benston made a through pass to Penn in the box who cut back it to onrushing Anil at the far post but the winger failed to keep his tap on target from the goalmouth.

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However, Vasco managed to double their lead in the very next minute as Moises’ powerful shot from close was brilliantly blocked by Panjim custodian Sherwin but the loose ball was easily tapped in by another substitute forward Nevil Soares making it 2-0.

Soares had a chance to score his second within next five minutes when he was in the commanding position in the box with just Panjim keeper to beat but the forward shot in the waiting hands of keeper Sherwin. Whereas Beneston also had a chance to complete his brace in the dying minutes of the match but the striker saw his curling shot missed target narrowly. A few minutes later, Beneston another shot was pushed for a corner by Panjim keeper Sherwin.