The Hindu : Sport / Football : Army stuns Vasco

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Friday, Mar 03, 2006

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Sport - Football

Army stuns Vasco

Sports Reporter

GOAL!: Vasco goalkeeper Milagrio Medeira fails to prevent Army XI's Vijay Thapa from scoring in the second division ONGC Cup National Football League in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

BANGALORE: Army XI snatched its first full set of points with a solitary goal win over fancied Vasco Sports Club (Goa) in a Group A league match of the ONGC Cup 10th National Football League second division at the football stadium here on Thursday.

Coming into the match with a win over Assam Rifles, Vasco did stitch a few decent moves early on but failed to muster a clear shot on goal although Brazilian Joao Oliveira did volley on the turn, only to watch Army XI goalkeeper Robikanth Singh gather with ease.

On the other hand, Army XI — having held Indian Bank to a 1-1 draw in the tournament opener — hardly made any initiative after a Samuel header off a Thirunavukarasu chip, sailed wide.

Army XI's Vijay Thapa did hustle the rival defence a couple of times, towards the closing moments of the first half and a fine free-kick forced Vasco goalkeeper Milagrio Medeira to stretch full length to keep it away.

Vijay Thapa shines

Soon after the break, Thapa was foiled again at the nick of time by Medeira, but in the 66th minute, the custodian was rooted to the spot as Thapa chipped the ball home after a brilliant pass from substitute Raghu Kumar.

The goal stunned Vasco and the team was spurred into finding an equaliser but the tireless Army XI defence thwarted the team's designs.

Robikanth tipped over a Francis Fernandes' 30-yarder in fine style and despite the induction of all the three substitutes, there was little that the Goan side could do.

Meanwhile, Army XI did have another close look on goal but Raghu Kumar ballooned his shot over after Thapa did well to pull back a pass from Hemant Lama.

Army XI coach Stanley Rozario — under whom the team won the Durand Cup this season — was delighted and promised a better showing in the remaining encounters.

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