Vasco scrape through

MARGAO, SEPT 7: Three goals. Three good saves. Three yellow cards. In the end, after much huffing and puffing, Vasco Sports Club managed ...

MARGAO, SEPT 7: Three goals. Three good saves. Three yellow cards. In the end, after much huffing and puffing, Vasco Sports Club managed to put it across new entrants Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) Sports Council by the odd goal, in the opening round of the Director Special Professional Football League, organised by the Goa Football Association (GFA) at the Nehru Stadium here.

Sukhdeo Awarde was the star of the Vasco Sports Club. On his way to scoring his brace, Awarde displayed fine opportunism and good positioning. Had his colleague shown the same pluckiness, Vasco could have well walked away with the three points with ease.

The deadlock was broken in the 18th minute by Vasco Sports Club. Caetano Pinto lobbed the ball into the MPT goal for Sukhdeo Awarde. Goalkeeper Francis Fernandes, who otherwise had a good game, hesitated. Before he could decide, Awarde had the ball headed over Fernandes to send the Vasco supporters into deliriums of joy.

Story continues below this ad

The goal had its effect on the MPT lads. And a positive one that too. They pressed hard. Just two minutes before the lemon break, Riston passed the ball to Menino Fernandes on the left, who in turn lobbed it to Vishant Pednekar who nodded the ball into an open goal.

After returning from the breather, it was Vasco once again swarming their rival citadel with little bit of luck. First, Orlando’s try kissed the horizontal. Later, Jude’s cross went abegging. And just when the game appeared to Peter towards a draw, Arwade came up with the match winner.

A good move initiated by Jude on the right, complimented by substitute Peter Rodrigues and finished off in style by Awarde. This time too, he had an empty goal in front of him.