Salgaocar score over Vasco

Vasco Sports Club tasted their first defeat, going down to a spirited Salgaocar 1-2, in the sixth round of the second leg Goa professional football league match at the Nehru stadium, in Fatorda, Goa, on Tuesday.

In the first leg, both teams played out a goalless draw.

Salgaocar, who are now on par with table-toppers Zee Churchill, with ten points, are placed second while Vasco have been relegated to third place, with nine points. Churchill remain on top with a better goal difference.

All the three goals in Tuesday's match came in the second half with Alex Ambrose and Alvito D'Cunha scoring for Salgaocar, in the 57th and 70th minutes respectively. Marcos Pereira reduced the margin for Vasco in the injury time.

Play was confined to the midfield for a major part of the barren first half and came to life only in the second half.

Salgaocar had a chance in the 12th minute of the first half, but Eugene Gray failed to control the ball after receiving a pass from Alvito D'Cunha and his try sailed over the bar.

After the breather, Salgaocar regrouped well and shot into the lead in the 57th minute through Alex Ambrose. The goal was a result of a fine combined move between Jos Esteves and Dharamjit Singh. The latter fed Alex Ambrose, who unleashed a shot from the penalty zone into the net -- 1-0.

Inspired by the lead, Salgaocar continued the attacks and consolidated their position in the 70th minute through Alvito D'Cunha. Jatin Bhist's power-packed shot hit the goalpost and rebounded towards the unmarked Alvito, who pounced upon the opportunity, and drove home a stiff left-footer -- 2-0.

Vasco reduced the margin in the injury time through Marcos Pereira, who chested a pass from C Hemanathan, trapped the ball, and shot over the rival goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey's head 2-1.