GPL 2019-20: Vasco edge Velsao in thriller to register first win

Goals from Ivorian striker Lago Bei and Suraj Mondal helped the Port Towners to secure all three points.

Vasco Sports Club registered their first three points of the league as they came from two-goals down to beat Velsao Sports and Cultural Club by an entertaining 4-3 margin in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Monday.

Shubham Rao Dessai and Joseph Pereira scored in the 20th and 24th  minutes to give Velsao an early lead. Whereas, Suraj Mondal and Darren Rebello scored in the 37th and 40th minutes to level back for Vasco. Velsao substitute striker Laiwang Bohham once again put Velsao ahead at the hour mark but goals from Ivorian striker Lago Bei (66th min) and Suraj Mondal (87th min) helped the Port Towners to secure all three points.

Jagdish Raikar who was in the charge of Vasco in the absence of head coach Micky Fernandes chose to go with the same line up which went down to Churchill Brothers in the last match, whereas Velsao who had lost to Dempo SC in the last match by 6-0 margin had few changes as their coach Ajay Acharya gave start to forward Joseph Pereira, defender Lalbabu Mahto and keeper Presley Mascarenhas in the starting XI.

After midfield play in the first 15 minutes, Velsao had a chance to take the lead in the 18th minutes when their U-20 forward Romario Da Costa was in the commanding position to score but the lad’s shot was brilliantly blocked by Vasco custodian Sanju Thapa.

However, in the 20th minutes, Velsao took the lead when Charles Miranda made a perfect through pass to Shubham Rao Desai who made a darting run and calmly finished the ball in the net from close to put his side ahead.

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Vasco had a chance to level back in the very next minute as their U-20 winger Sheldon Pereira just had a rival keeper at the stake but Velsao keeper Presley Mascarenhas thwarted him in a one-on-one to keep his side safe.

At the other end, Velsao punished the Port Towners for not capitalising on their chance and doubled their lead when Romario sent a through pass to Joseph Pereira who made no mistake to beat Vasco keeper Sanju from close making it 2-0.

The Port Towners refused to give up and came out all attacking and after series of attacks, they finally managed to reduce the margin in the 37th minute as Vasco midfielder Mathew Colaco was brought down in the box by Velsao defender Bersal Viegas to give away the penalty where Suraj Mondal sent Velsao keeper the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-1.

A very next minute, Vasco striker Lago Bei had a chance to level back but Velsao keeper Presley came off his line to deny the Ivorian forward.

However, Vasco found the equaliser in the 40th minute when their strike force Lago set up U-20 Darren Rebello in the box who without any wasting time shot past Velsao keeper Presley from just inside the box making it 2-2.

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Velsao coach Ajay brought in forward Laiwang Bohham to replace U-20 Romario at the halftime and the striker proved his calibre in the 60th minute when he went for the glory from the distance which kissed Vasco keeper Sanju’s gloves before settling down in the back of the nylons to once again put them into the lead.

However, it was just six more minutes when the Port Towners once again made it all square as this time, Denvil Fernandes’ powerful strike from the top of the box deflected off Velsao defender and travelled to Lago who clinically finished the ball in the net from close to make it 3-3.

Velsao forward Laiwang had another opportunity to put his side ahead in the dying minutes of the match when Remedios found him with a perfect cross but the lad saw his shot rebound off the goalpost.

This time Vasco punished the rivals for wasting a golden opportunity and found the winner in the 87th minute when their strike force Lago squared the ball to onrushing Suraj Mondal who made an easy tap-in to book first three points for the Port Towners.

A few minutes later, Vasco forward Lago had a chance to complete his brace when Suraj found him with a perfect through pass but the Ivoirian striker was blocked in a one-on-one situation by Velsao keeper Presley.