Vasco hold Churchill with late goal

Trailing by a goal at the breather, Vasco, Goa, came up with a strong display in the latter half to hold fancied Zee Churchill to a 1-1 draw in a fourth round match in the sixth National Football League, at the Nehru stadium, Fatorda, Goa, on Friday.

Churchill scored in the 37th minute of the first half through star striker Yakubu Yusif, while Rui Wanderely drew level for Vasco in the second minute of injury time.

Following the draw, Churchill moved to the top of the table on par with HAL, Bangalore, and Mahindra United, with eight points from two wins and two draws, while Vasco increased their points tally to five points.

In a fast paced match, Churchill went into the attack right from the start as they needed an outright win to shoot clear at the top. They called the tune but had to wait till the 37th minute of the first half to forge ahead lead through Yusif.

Vasco goalkeeper Rogerio Ramos failed to grip the ball properly following a free-kick by Aqeel Ansari. The ball slipped from his grasp. Yakubu, who was lurking inside the goal area unmarked, pounced upon the opportunity and unleashed a shot which hit the bottom edge of the right post and entered the net.

Earlier, Vasco came near scoring in the fifth minute but Churchill goalkeeper Edward Ansh brought off a fine save off Sanjay Parte's shot.

In the 29th minute, Vasco's Avazbek Khoshimov's attempt sailed over the bar off a pass from Marcos Pereira.

After Churchill gained the lead, Vasco had one more good opportunity to restore parity a minute before the breather but Satish Minz failed to connect a pass from Rui Wanderely.

After the change of ends, Vasco played with renewed vigour. They went all out for the equaliser and restored the parity in the second minute of the injury time through Wanderely, who, after receiving a cross from Marcos Pereira, unleashed a swerving shot which hit the cross bar and defelcted into the net.

A little earlier, in the 84th minute, Wanderely's try was well saved by Churchill custodian Ansah following a cross from Agenlo Colaco.

Referee S M Balu showed yellow cards to Vasco's Seby Dias, Angelo Colaco and 'keeper Rogerio Ramos.

Vasco's coach Derrick Pereira, who lost his temper after the referee flashed the yellow card to Ramos, argued with Balu, following which the latter ordered the fourth referee to send Pereira out of the ground.

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