Vasco returns home with a win over Calangute Association

Vasco custodian Sanju Thapa was judged as a Man of the Match for his brilliant performance under the crossbar.

Vasco Sports Club escaped with all three points from their first match as they pip Calangute Association by a solitary goal in the Goa Professional League match, played at Duler Stadium earlier today.

The teams took the field after a reshuffle where for Vasco colts with the exit of their coach Eban Misquita to Velsao SC, Micky Fernandes who was the player cum assistant coach for the Portside was given to shoulder the responsibilities of head coach, who fielded a number of new faces in the Starting XI.

At the other end, Calangute Association side having released coach Alex Alvares saw Agostinho Dias shoulder the coaching reign, who also fielded almost a different starting XI.

Today’s match was largely attended with the vociferous crowd cheering their teams till the final hooter, where a self-goal in the 16th minute by Nicolau Colaco broke the hearts of Calangute spectators.

Calangute colts started earnestly and came twice close in opening their account. In the 10th minute, Dominic Fernandes free-kick was not poorly collected by Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa, but before Calangute’s Franky Oliveira could do any damage the ball was cleared by the Vasco defender.

Another glorious chance went in vain for Calangute where a stiff grounder by Calangute’s Franky was superbly blocked with a diving save by keeper Sanju.

In the 16th minute, Calangute were struck with a deadly blow when a long floater by Vasco’s Moises D’Sa at the goal, saw Calangute’s Nicolau Colaco head the ball to his keeper Savio Paes, who missed the flight of the ball which rolled into the goal, 1-0.

Trailing by a goal Calangute went all out in search of the equalizer when Diptesh Naik shot was saved by Vasco keeper Sanju and minutes later Jason Lucas shot travelled over the horizontal bar.

Vasco’s Moises was thwarted by keeper Savio in one to one situation to stop the opponents inflating the lead.

ALSO READ

• We needed to get used to the standard of football which we would face in the Asian Cup- Constantine

• Grittty India hold wasteful China to historic draw in internationa friendly

• Top 5 fixtures to watch in I-League 2018-19

The best chance for Calangute to level terms came in the 40th minute where Sachidanand Satelkar sent a perfect low pass to Jason Lucas, but the latter to his team’s dismay tapped the ball over the post from close.

In the closing stages of the first session Vasco’s Schubert, Minesh and U 20 Aman Gaonkar were booked by referee David Rebello for rough play.

On crossing over the Portside had two close attempts at the rival goal, where, in the 3rd minute, a blistering right-footer from Schubert was fisted over the post by keeper Savio.

The keeper once again came to his team’s rescue as he pushed a header from Aman Govekar for a corner.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

In the last ten minutes of the match Vasco keeper Sanju brought two superb saves to deny a goal-bound shot from Calangute’s Franky Oliveira and Jason Lucas entering the goal.

A minute before the final hooter and Calangute keeper Savio brought back to back saves to deny Schubert and Beneston from scoring.