Vasco Sports Club staged a remarkable second-half rally to outwit Kolkata Port Trust 3-1 in a quarter-final group B league match in the 108th IFA Shield football tournament in Kolkata on Saturday.
The local outfit surged ahead in the first-half through Amar Pyne, but lost their way in the second session after central
defender Bejoy Pal was given the marching orders after receiving his second yellow card booking in the first minute post the breather.
Taking advantage of the reduced strength of their rivals, the Goans scored through Riston Rodgrigues, Menino Fernandes and substitute Nitin Pradhan to log full points from the Salt Lake stadium tie.
Vasco, who were held goalless in lung opener against Tata Football Acadmey, now have four points from two matches.
Port Trust, who played enthusiastically in the first-half, repeatedly attacking from the right, shot into the lead in the 38th minute when Pyne headed into the corner of the net from a Bastab Ray cross from the right.
Port Trust maintained their lead till the lemon break, but suffered a severe jolt when they were reduced to 10 men
soon after the breather as Pal, who was earlier booked in the first-half for an offence, was cautioned by referee S Yasin
for delaying in taking a free-kick.
But as the player argued, the referee showed him the yellow card for the second time, forcing him to leave the field.
Seizing on the oppurtunity, the Goans upped their ante and Rodgrigues restored parity as he headed from close a cross
from Brazilian Rui Wanderley in the 50th minute.
The Goans snatched the lead eight minutes later with Wanderley again in the picture as he essayed a fine back pass
to Menino Fernandes, who slotted home an angular right footer.
Continuing the onslaught, Vasco put the issue beyond Port Trust when Shanta Singh centred from the right in the 77 minute to an unmarked Pradhan, who replaced Agnello Gomes in the second-half, to make the score 3-1.
