Vasco stuns Air India by 1-0, registers first win

Margao, Nov 29 (UNI) A second half 65th minute goal by forward Ravshan Teshabnev enabled bottom placed Vasco sports club to shock Air India Mumbai 1-0 to register their first win in the ONGC I League football match at Nehru stadium Fatorda today.

Vasco, who had improved their showing today, could have romped home by much bigger margin, had their forwards were accurate in the finishing touches in both the halves.

With this win, Vasco now increased their points tally to five points from 11 outings, while Air India Mumbai remained on same 16 points from equal number of outings.

The first half was evenly contested though, Vasco had a slight edge in the midfield exchange. However, they should have been in the lead, had their strikers been on target. They were attacking fluently but faulter at a crucial juncture.

The home side initiated a first move as early as in the 5th minute from the start by Agnelo D'souza, who only to beat the rival goalkeepr shot wide.

Air India came near scoring in the 25th minute of the first half, when Kailas Patil initiated a move and pass to Socour Velho, whose attempted shot landed straight into the hands of Vasco goalkeeper Laximikant Kuttimani.

Towards the close of the first half, sporting had another good chance to move ahead in the 43rd minute, when Minino Fernandes pass to Agnelo D souza, who in quick succession swithced over the ball to Rovshan Teshabnev, who did not have a clear look at the goal took a hasty shot, which went wide and wasted and at half time the score board remained blank.

After a barren first, Vasco regrouped well and played a spirited game with an emphasis attack and shot into the lead in the 65th minute through Ravashan, who after collecting a well measured pass deceived the rival goalkeeper and shot into the net 1-0. Ravashan made amends for his earlier lapse.

Inspired by a lead, Vasco continued to attack and could have increased their lead in the 68th minute, when Agnelo D souza sent a pass to Yorkin Nazarov, whose powerpacked shot crashed into the framework and went to abortive corner.

Vasco's defender Covan Lawrence was later adjudged 'man of the match' for his fine performance.

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