Two crucial defensive lapses proved Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club’s undoing as they conceded two goals in the space of four minutes to crash to their second defeat in three matches. In their third match in the seventh National Football League, the local champions lost 1-2 to Vasco Sports Club, Goa at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Tuesday.It was another case of HASC dominating, but failing to finish. In their previous match against arch rivals ITI too, they held sway, but failed to score. Although coach HASC Chandrashekar made the right changes in strategy, unfortunately for him, it did not produce the desired effect on his points column.It was also a disastrous NFL debut for Abhijit, the State under-21 skipper. Playing as a wing back on the left, Abhijit made two crucial errors which enabled the Goan team pull ahead minutes before the breather. Abhijit was replaced by Shivamani soon after HASC had conceded the second goal just before the breather, but the damage had already been done. HASC began on a rousing note and much to their credit, maintained the tempo right through. Ishfaq Ahmed, used as a attacking midfielder in the previous match, was promoted to striker, while Nigerian Kenneth Onu was shuffled to the midfield where he did duty along with Dayanand.
