Vasco down HAL for first win

Vasco Sports Club scored their first victory in the Oil PSU-seventh National Football League, beating Bangalore champions Hindustan Aeronautics 2-1, in Bangalore, on Tuesday.

Brazilian import Marcos Pereira found the target in the 39th minute and Sushant Mathew struck three minutes later as the Goa side led 2-0 at half-time.

Pereira headed home from close range following a pass from his countryman Rui Wanderley Reis to give his side a 1-0 lead.

In the 42nd minute, Mathew fired home off a header from Pereira, who had neatly done the job following a flag-kick taken by Menino Fernandes.

Earlier, in the 28th minute, the visitors had a chance to score but Pereira's shot went over the bar after HASC goalkeeper Mark Mascarenhas failed to cleanly collect a shot from Menino Fernandes.

HAL, who finished eighth last season as compared to Vasco's third placing, salvaged some pride when they pulled one back in the 54th minute, with Isfaq Ahmed coming up with a superb header.

It was Nigerian recruit Kennuth Onu's pass that did the trick as Ahmed made no mistake.

Desperate efforts thereafter by HAL to find an equaliser were in vain as the visitors stood their ground to collect three points from the encounter, after a defeat and a draw in their first two matches.

HAL also had similar results in the first two encounters and are yet to taste victory.

Complete Coverage: 7th National Football League 2002-03