The FC Goa Development team raced to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Vasco SC at the Duler Stadium, Mapusa in their Goa Pro League clash. Striker Aaren D’Silva opened the floodgates in the 25th minute with a tap in after Flan Gomes squared the ball to him in the box. Vincy Barretto was next on the scoresheet after he pounced on a mistake from the goalkeeper to tuck the ball home. The Gaurs went into half-time with a comfortable 2-0 lead that only got better in the second period courtesy a Nestor Dias brace. The midfielder first expertly back flicked the ball into the net in the 68th minute and then finished neatly into the far corner in the 83rd to round off a superb display.
The Gaurs started the first period confidently with Sezwin Fernandes blazing a volley over within minutes of kick-off. The Gaurs should have been ahead midway through the first period when Sweden Fernandes’ corner from the left found the run of Brian Faria at the far post. The centre half, however, couldn’t keep his shot down and Vasco SC were lucky to not be trailing. That didn’t last long though, as in the very next minute, Flan Gomes ran on to a through ball and teed it perfectly for Aaren D’Silva who tapped into an empty net to give the Gaurs a deserved lead in the 25th minute.
Despite being a goal ahead, the Gaurs continued to attack Vasco SC. Their persistence was rewarded in the 38th minute after neat interplay on the left wing saw Sezwin charge forward, cut back and shoot at the goalkeeper who fumbled the ball into the path of Vincy. The youngster made no mistake in tapping it home from close range. Moments later, Vincy really should have had his second goal of the game after he was sent through via an exquisite long ball from Sezwin. He took a touch, raced into the box but failed to keep his shot on target as the ball rolled out for a goal kick in what was the last bit of action in the first period.
It was more of the same in the second half as the Gaurs pressured the opposition defenders. Vasco made a couple of early substitutions in the hope of wresting some control over the game. However, Derrick’s charges seemed in no mood to give up their dominating position and continually shut out the opposition attackers while crafting wave after wave of attacks on the Vasco goal. They finally made the breakthrough in the 68th minute through Nestor. A corner from the right found its way to Brian and the defender hit a shot that deflected to Nestor in the box who expertly back flicked it past the goalkeeper to triple his team’s score.
The home side looked deflated as the Gaurs began to run riot once again. Vasco had a rare chance to pull one back in the 75th minute when goalkeeper Guidle parried a long shot into the path of Vasco attacker Mathew who blazed over from a few yards out. Thereafter, Aaren had another chance to increase the lead but only managed to find the goalkeeper from the edge of the box. The Gaurs weren’t to be denied though as they managed their fourth of the evening in the 83rd minute. Nestor threaded an inch perfect through ball to Leander D’Cunha who made the run down the right into the box and the full back obliged by playing it back across for Nestor who continued his run and finished neatly into the far corner. The hosts were unable to find a consolation goal as the half ticked to a close and FC Goa came away with an emphatic victory.