Corps of Signals hold Vasco to goalless draw

The Port Towners could not find the net even after dominanting the entire match.

Vasco Sports Club and Corps of Signals played out a goalless draw in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium earlier today.

Vasco has suffered a defeat in the last match against Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, whereas Signals were in the fantastic form as they had eased past Panjim Footballers by three goals.

Double booking suspensions to few of the starting XI players forced Signals coach Sub Rateesh R to make few changes as Chand Singh, Kejins K., Paul Victor and Nitesh Parwar made into the cut, while Vasco coach Eban Mesquita made only one change bringing in newly signed Amit Biswas in place of Suresh Lamani in the goal.

Vasco were the dominant side in the first session as they created numerous chances but strong defending restricted the Vasco from taking lead.

A very 4th minute of the match saw Vasco’s Minesh Kunkolkar try his luck from the 20-yards free-kick but Signals keeper Binu Purushothama nicely collected it. A few minutes later, Vasco Nigerian striker John Nnanna strike from inside the box but keeper Binu once again brilliantly clear the danger.

At the half hour mark, Nnanna brilliantly assisted on rushing Vasco skipper Schubert Pereira but the winger shot wide from inside the box.

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Two minutes later, Vasco keeper Biswas fumbled with the ball to collect Signals striker Harshad Thube’s power shot from the deep left flank but defender Treyson D’Costa quickly cleared the danger to keep his side safe. At the other end, Vasco’s Guinean midfielder Vassesba Toure dangerously moved inside the 18-yard-box but saw his sparkling shot miss the target by a whisker.

In the added time, Signals almost took the lead when Thube shot on the goal off Pawan Thakur’s corner but Treyson once again came to rescue his side as he made a goal-line clearance. A very next minute, Vasco keeper Biswas came up with diving efforts to push Lairellakpam Singh’s goalbound free-kick for a corner.

Vasco coach Mesquita made two changes as he brought in speedy wingers Anil Goankar and Clive Coelho to bring pace on the wings and Anil was in action just after coming in as he brilliantly dribbled past two defenders to enter the box and shot on the goal but his strike was cleared by Victor.

At the hour mark, Anil once again made a brilliant run on the wing and tried to find Nigerian striker Nnanna in front of the goal but Victor once gain cleared it for a corner. A minute later, Binu made an excellent save to deny Deryl Endro’s powerful header from close.

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Vasco came up with two more promising attacks in the last ten minutes where first, skipper Schubert snatched the ball from defenders feet and went for the glory from outside the box but Keeper Binu made an excellent save to keep it clean. Later, Anil was nicely fed by Leny Fernandes in the box but the winger failed to control his shot from close as the ball went out for a goal-kick.

With this draw, Signals moved up to 4th position with 11 points from 7 matches, while Vasco has 8 points from the same number of outings.