Vasco outclass Churchill Brothers in an entertaining GPL encounter

Skipper Schubert Pereira played an important role in Vasco’s victory.

Vasco Sports Club registered an impressive 4-1 win over Churchill Brothers in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium earlier today.

With today’s win, Vasco moved to the 7th position with seven points from six outings, while Churchill dropped down to 9th with five points the same number of matches.

Churchill had drawn their last match against Corps of Signals, whereas Vasco went down to Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in their previous match. Vasco coach Eban Mesquita made two changes to his side as both the wingers, Anil Gaonkar and Clive Coelho made way for Deryl Endro and Franky Oliveiro, while Churchill started without that star midfielder Israil Gurung. Striker Manas Sarkar replaced him in the starting XI.   

Churchill were lucky not to concede a penalty in the early stage of the match when Vasco skipper Schubert Pereira’s corner was clearly handled in the box by a Churchill defender but surprisingly referee Jose Rebello overlooked the incident.

A few minutes later, Schubert had the best chance to take his side into the lead but the skipper’s shot just missed the target.

At the other end, Churchill scored from their first attempt in the 28th minutes when Manas blasted Alber Gonsalves’ cut back pass from inside the box which hit the inside of the crossbar, dropped inside the goal line and came out, where the linesman confirm the goal, making it 1-0 for the I-league side.

Down by a goal, the Port Towners regrouped and quickly found the equaliser in the 35th minutes when Nigerian striker John Nnanna shot past Churchill keeper Jayanth Kumar from just inside the box, making it all square for Vasco.

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With just two minutes past, defender Minesh Kunkolkar put Vasco ahead when his 30-yarder deflected off Churchill defender Rahul Kumar’s head and beat the keeper Jayanth making it 2-1 for the Port Towners at the halftime.

Trailing by a goal, Churchill coach Shevchenko brought in Franko Paul and Valerio Rodrigues at the halftime to sharpen them in the attacking but the midfielders could not make much difference to the scoreboard. However, Vasco added two more goals in the quick succession.

Vasco skipper Schubert brilliantly dribbled past two with great footwork on the top of the box and shot from the edge of the box, which finished in the back of the nylons making it 3-1 in the 55th minutes.

 A very next minute, Schubert had another chance to further increase their lead but his powerful shot from inside the box went just over the crossbar.  

However, five minutes later, Franky made it 4-1 for the Port Towners. Vasco’s Guinean midfielder made an excellent through pass to Shubert in the box who in return set up the ball to onrushing striker Franky, who made no mistake from inside the box as his clinical shot entered the top corner.

Churchill only potent attempt came in the 53rd minutes when Valerio, Manas and Joshuah Vaz combined well in the move but Joshuah saw his powerful shot from the edge of the box rebound off the crossbar.