Basement club Vasco upset Sporting Clube de Goa by a solitary goal to register their second win of the ONGC I-League, played at Nehru stadium, in Margao on Sunday.
After a barren first half in this 12th round encounter, Vasco scored the all important goal in the 67th minute through debutant Lester Fernandes to collect eight points from 12 matches.
Sporting Clube de Goa remained on top with 25 points from 12 matches, one point ahead of Mohun Bagan.
Lester, who played his first match for Vasco after being loaned from Dempo, showed lot of promise on the left flank and combined well with the midfield to score the goal with a diving header following a free-kick taken by Sherzod Nazarov from the right.
Vasco, placed at the bottom of the table, continued the good run they showed in the Federation Cup as they held midfield superiority and could have scored early in the match but were unlucky when Rvshan Tashabaev's shot hit the crosspiece off a Lester floater.
Vasco, who held edge, created a couple of scoring chances in the first half but lacked finishing touches with Agnelo D'Souza wasting a clear chance as he drove the ball straight into the hands of keeper Felix D'Souza.
Sporting Clube de Goa could not show the promise of the first phase of the league. They lacked cohesion in the midfield and as a result Junior Obagbemiro was often left stranded upfront.
The only time they came close to scoring in the first half was following a move between Anthony D'Souza and Junior which the later drove wide.
Vasco were reduced to 10 men in injury time after referee S Suresh showed red card to Yorkin Nazarov for dissent.
Vasco coach Elvis Goes was happy with today's victory.
"It's good beginning in the second leg with a win especially against Sporting Clube de Goa, who are leading the table. The boys showed that they have ability to win matches on their given day," Goes said.
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