Vasco exploited a sloppy defence in the first half to score an emphatic 3-1 victory over Salgaocar to move to seventh place of the eight National Football League on Thursday.

At the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, goals from Marcos Pereira (19^th minute), Agnelo Colaco (43rd) and Kamal Thapa in injruy time of the first half saw Vasco 3-0 ahead at half -time before Climax Lawrence pulled one back in the second half for Salgaocar.

Vasco, who have 20 points from 16 matches after the victory, jumped to seventh place while Salgaocar, who are hovering around the relegation zone are in the ninth place with 18 points from as many matches.

Salgaocar's looked a pale shadow of themselves after five defeats from the last six matches they played in the second leg. The first half saw them play a disjointed game with their defence being clueless against Vasco's well-orchestrated moves.

It was only in the second half that they raised the level of their game, which saw them scoring early.

On the other hand, Vasco played with authority and made several inroads into the rival box.

Vasco, who made most of the moves from the right flank, drew first blood in the 19th minute when Marcos Pereira chested a cross from Edson Crasto from the right and volleyed home.

Two minutes before the interval, Agnelo Colaco consolidated the lead when he tapped home a cross by Kamal Thapa, which came to him via through pass from Seby Dias.

Kamal Thapa then increased the tally in injury time of the first half off a cross from Marcos Pereira.

Salgaocar raised their game in the second half and succeeded in scoring when Climax Lawrence shot home a pass from substitute Jules Aliba.

Thereafter Salgaocar held sway over their rivals but could not fetch goals as the rival defence defended well till the end.