Amaechi brace gives Vasco victory

Amaechi Tochukwu scored once in each half to guide Vasco to a 2-1 victory over Coca Cola Churchill Brothers an eighth National Football League match in Margao, Goa, on Tuesday.

With Marcus Pereira spearheading the charge, Vasco used the long ball well to unsettle the rival defence and recorded their third straight victory in the tournament.

Amaechi scored in the 24th and 82nd minutes before Churchill reduced the margin in the 89th minute through Yusif Yakubu's penalty.

Referee Subrata Das awarded the penalty when Vasco defender Seby Dias bought down Osumanu inside the box. Yakubu made no mistake.

Vasco, who completed their first leg engagements, have 15 points from 11 matches, while Churhchill, who have played a match less, have 17 points.

Vasco, who enjoyed the upper hand in midfield played cross field passes to unsettle the rival defence. Marcus Pereira, who played as withdrawn striker, repeatedly beat the rival defence with long overhead passes.

Vasco shot into the lead in the 24th minute when Amaechi headed in a flag-kick taken by Marcus from the left.

Churchill made a counter move and Francis Alfonso had a chance to score but headed straight to keeper Rogerio Ramos.

Minutes later, Marcus nearly increased the lead but his powerful shot from inside the box, off Amaechi pass, hit the bar and went out.

After the change of ends, also Vasco continued to dictate terms.

The Churchill Bros defence moved up in search of the equaliser and became more ambitious. As a result they left huge gaps for their opponents to exploit.

The Churchill goal survived thrice. First Amaechi's weak shot went straight to keeper Mark Mascarenhas's hands, then Anthony Fernandes wasted an open chance and later Mascarenhas made a diving save off Cabral's shot.

The Churchill goal came under repeated threats, and defender Rajesh Metei made a goalline-save off an Anthony Fernandes header .Off the rebound, Anthony's header was put out by keeper Mascarenhas.

Churchill, who made an all out effort to find the equaliser had a good chance in the 78th minute but Firoz missed an open chance to score off John pass.