Crunch tie for Vasco, HAL

The Bangalore team were the better side in their matchagainst Mohammedan yesterday but were unlucky to lose after referee Walter Pereira of Mumbai allowed a controversial second-half goal when assistant referee Franky Fernandes of Goa failed to flag two off-side rival players.

Coach Krishnaji Rao said: We have still not recoveredfrom the jolt we received from yesterday’s defeat after our boys dominated the match.

Our’s is a young side without any foreign players…losing points with referee’s bad decision has hurt me and the the entire team, which is yet to recover (from it) mentally. I am trying hard to motivate the boys and keep them in a better frame of mind for tomorrow’s match.

We have beaten them 2-1 earlier and will go all out fora win. Hopefully, the boys will play in the same vein in which they have played in the last four matches, Rao said.

Vasco, will have to tone up their game in all departmentsin order to win.

Their strikers Jude and Arwade have failed to capitaliseon scoring opportunities. While the midfielders, who have played well so far, will have to be at their best to keep the attack going, especially since the HAL midfield showed good coordination yesterday.

Vasco coach Derrick Pereira was hopeful that his teamwould put on an improved performance tomorrow. Our defence lacked concentration to keep the fort intact and our strikers failed to capitalise on the chances that came their way, which resulted in our defeat.

We will go all out for a win tomorrow as a win is a mustto keep us in the reckoning, Pereira said.