PANAJI: Vasco Sports Club and Panjim Footballers played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in Goa Football Association’s Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler stadium, Mapusa, on Saturday.
Vasco’s Joaquim Abranches scored a 76th minute equaliser to cancel out Joyson Gauncar’s 10th minute lead.
It was a fast-paced game with Panjim Footballers’ attempts at goal forcing Vasco SC backline to be on their toes. Pandurang Gauns saw his goal-bound attempt blocked by Vasco SC’s Warren Pereira and then Akash Sanadi’s effort sailed over the bar.
At the other end, Joaquim Abranches and Francisco Fernandes combined with quick passes and then the latter forced a save from Preston Rego, who dived to push the ball out for a corner.
Panjim Footballers were the first to break the deadlock in the 10th minute when Joyson Gauncar darted into the box playing wall passes with Pandurang and Llyod, before finishing clinically past Vasco custodian Risven Fernandes.
Risven then produced two fine saves denying Krishna Gawas from a 30 yards while his second was even better when he put his body on the line to stop Alent Colaco’s one-on-one shot. Krishna had played a diagonal pass to Alent who had ample time and space to place the ball, but he failed to double the lead.
At the other end, Savlon Fernandes played a dangerous ball in the Panjim area which Anil Gaonkar, failed to push into the back of the net.
Crossing over, Vasco SC came up with renewed ideas and nearly got themselves back into the game. It was from Denil Rebello’s cross which Abranches nodded in only to be cleared off the line by Pandurang.
Abranches came agonisingly close to getting the equaliser when he directed Anil’s cross from the right, which however narrowly went past the post.
Vasco SC kept up their hunt for the equaliser and came close once again from a set-piece. Denil’s corner was put back into the box by Kuldeep where Abranches headed the ball only to see his effort denied by the crossbar. Later Kuldeep saw his effort from a flag kick, fly above the crossbar.
It seemed it wasn’t Abranches’ day as in the 73rd minute, second half substitute Hafiz threaded a through pass to the former Dempo SC star, who got the ball on his preferred right foot and fired a firm shot which was brilliantly blocked by Preston Rego.
Panjim defender Akram Yadwad fouled Anil in the box and the referee gave away a penalty for Vasco in the 76th minute. Abranches stepped up and cooly converted to restore parity.
