An injury time goal by striker Felix Ibrebru enabled Salgaocar beat Vasco 1-0 and register their first victory in the ninth National Football League, at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Monday.
Salgaocar failed to cash in on their numerical advantage in the first half after Vasco was reduced to ten men when their Brazilian recruit Sydney Rodrigues was expelled after getting his second yellow card.
Salgaocar did more of the probing before the break and created several chances which were wasted by their erratic strikers.
The pattern continued in the second half as the match headed towards a goalless draw.
But Salgaocar made amends for their earlier lapses when a deflected shot by Rocus Lamare was tapped in by Ibrebru following a goalmouth melee.
The victory gave Salgaocar their first three points after the shock defeat to promoted side State Bank of Travancore last week.
Salgaocar also were reduced to ten men in the last quarter when Micky Fernandes got his second yellow card for a rough challenge on Menino.
For Vasco, it was their second defeat in as many matches in the new season.