Goa Pro League: Vasco SC edge Sesa Football Academy

Sesa suffered their second defeat in three matches.

Vasco Sports Club secured their second win of the season as they edged Sesa Football Academy by a slender 1-0 margin in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Friday. Joaquim Abranches came off the bench in the late second-half to score the winner in the 86th minute.

Sesa coach Charles Dias made several changes to his side following a 1-1 draw against Velsao SCC in the last match as Sameer Kashyap, Russel Vaz, Myron Borges, Omkar Arondekar and keeper Roanal Gaunkar made the start. On the other hand, Micky Fernandes made only two changes to his side which went down fighting to Sporting Clube de Goa in their previous match as Suraj Mondal and Joaquim Abranches made way for Mathew Colaco and U-20 midfielder Savlon Fernandes in the starting XI.

Though the Port Towners started the match on attacking note, it was Sesa who were the first to look at goal in the 11th minute when Sandeep made a short pass to Myron who went for glory from the top of the box. However, Vasco custodian Sanju Thapa stretched to his limit to push the ball for a corner. Vasco replied with a swift attack as Francisco Fernandes after covering some ground tried his luck from just inside the box only to see it denied by the crossbar.

At the other end, Vasco defender Kuldeep Kumar came with a brilliant block to rescue his side from conceding as he denied Domnic Soares’ goal bound strike from the six-yard box. Later, Vasco also had a chance to surge ahead in the 35th minute when their experienced midfielder Francis made a perfect through pass to U-20 player Desmon Gama whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Sesa keeper Roanal to keep his side safe.

Vasco once again came close to scoring in the 40th minute as their debutant Savlon found a free ball from the corner where he tried to put it in the net, but his powerful strike was timely blocked by Sesa defender Myran Pereira as both the sides entered the dressing room without a goal on their sheets at the half-time.

The Port Towners came all guns blazing in the second-half as they had the best chance to take the lead when substitute Joaquim Abranches made a through pass to Mathew Colaco who in turn made a swift run on the ball and went for the glory from inside the box, but his strike missed the target narrowly.

A few minutes before, Sesa had the best chance of the match in the 53rd minute when Vasco midfielder Savlon brought down Vishnu Gosavi just outside the box to give away the freekick in the dangerous area. Myron set up Sameer in the box from a well-taken set-piece, but the forward failed to make the most of an easy opportunity as his header went wide.

Vasco came with another swift attack as this time, Sanwil D’Costa after getting a pass at the top of the box tried his luck, but his curling strike was comfortably collected by Sesa keeper Roalan. The Port Towners should have scored in the 73rd minute when once again Mathew was in a commanding position after setting up by Sanwil with a floating pass, but the forward shot over the crossbar with just the keeper at stake.

After probing attacks, Vasco finally managed to find the net in the 86th minute when a fine cross from Anil Goankar was brilliantly connected by Joaquim from close to make it 1-0 for his side. Sesa players along with their coaching staff protested against the goal as their keeper collided with Vasco forward in the process of the clearance, but referee Pandurang Korgaonkar after discussing with his assistant, allowed the goal.