Continuing their awesome run, Mahindra United sailed into the final of the Federation Cup football tournament, getting past a lacklustre Vasco Sports Club, Goa, 2-1 in the second semi-final of the tournament in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Togo recruit Raphael Patron scored both the goals for the Mumbai outfit in the first session before K Ajayan reduced the margin in the second session for the Goans, who seemed rudderless right through -- a far cry from the gritty display they put up two days back when they stunned fancied East Bengal 1-0 to reach the semis.
In the final, on August 9, Mahindra will clash with Kolkata's Mohammedan Sporting, who scraped past title-holders Mohun Bagan 5-4 via the tie breaker in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
Establishing quick midfield control early into the game, Mahindra went into the lead in the 17th minute. A James Singh corner from the right went to Patron, lurking near the first post, off Vasco's Kamal Thapa and the well-built African, a constant source of trouble for the Goans, calmly tapped home.
The Mumbai outfit got their insurance strike eight minutes later as Patron launched into a fine run through the middle, and gave the ball to James Singh on the right flank. The speedy Manipuri passed the ball back to an advancing Patron, whose snap right foot grounder deflected off Vasco defender Seby Dias, baffling custodian Saji Joy, before entering the net.
Vasco, who seemed determined to stage a comeback after the breather, stepped up the attack, but their moves lacked thrust.
On the other hand, Mahindra, more keen on retaining their two-goal advantage, switched to a defensive mode, and Vasco got more free space in the midfield, and took the upperhand.
In an attmept to boost the frontline, Vasco coach Derrick Pereira withdrew defender Kamal Thapa in the 63rd minute and brought in Sushant Matthew, who scored the winner against East Bengal. The move paid off only three minutes later, as the jeepmen's defence caved in under constant pressure and committed a blunder.
Vasco's Mohammad Kaisar tried to pass the ball to the right from near the box, and Mahindra defender Arun Malhotra failed to clear properly. The ball went to Ajayan, who stabbed a left footer into the net.