Duler: Vasco Sports Club held Churchill Brothers FC to a 2-2 draw in the GFA’s Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, here on Wednesday.
After the drawn encounter Vasco SC have 16 points from 13 matches, while Churchill Brothers are on 6 points from 7 matches.
Vasco SC coach Eban Mesquita, after their victory in their last league match against SCC Cavelossim, made three changes to his starting line-up as he included Franky Oliveiro and Leny Fernandes.
At the other end Churchill Brothers, who were playing after almost two months, saw their coach Alfred Fernandes field almost the reserve I-League side team.
For the Red Machine Joshuah Vaz netted a brace, while for Port Towners Franku Oliveiro and Schubert Pereira scored.
Vasco SC controlled the proceeding well in the first 30 minutes of the match and had a number of scoring opportunities.
At the very start of the match, Minesh Kunkolkar saw his scorching left-footer from the left flank being pushed for corner by Churchill keeper Ricardo Cardozo.
The keeper was once again tested in the 13th minute where a 30-yard shot from Schubert Pereira was saved by the custodian with a diving collection.
Another chance went begging for the Port Towners when Franky Oliveiro got hold off a pass from U-20 Flan Gomes and latched a strike at the goal which missed the target narrowly.
Finally in the 30th minute, the Port Towners tasted success when medio Anil Gaoncar sent a cross to Schubert Pereira whose over head kick crashed into the back of the nylons, 1-0.
The Red Machine exerted pressure on the rival citadel and in the 38th minute Pankaj Sona sent a short pass inside the penalty box to Joshuah Vaz, who made no mistake to tap the ball into the goal to make it 1-1.
In the 43rd minute, Red Machine further extended their lead when Pankaj Sona’s header off a corner at the goal was blocked with a full stretched diving save by Vasco keeper Suresh Lamani and the ball travelled to Joshuah who made no mistake to guide the ball home, 2-1.
On crossing over, in the 52nd minute, Flan Gomes after controlling a pass from Franky darted inside the penalty box only to be thwarted by Churchill keeper Ricardo in one-to-one situation.
The Port Towners continued their domination where finally in the 70th minute they levelled terms. Vasco’s Schubert Pereira cut past a host of rival defenders and finished with a left footer past keeper Ricardo, 2-2.
In the last quarter of the match, Red Machine squandered two scoring opportunities. A cross by Alber Gonsalves was smartly headed at the goal by Britto PM only to find Vasco’s Myran Pereira come with an out-of-the-blue save as he headed the ball for a corner from the goal line.
Then in the 93rd minute, substitute Manas Sarkar controlled a long floater from Britto PM but failed to direct his placement into the unguarded goal.