Vasco Sports Club of Goa moved into the semi-finals of the Tata Federation Cup football tournament, scoring an upset 1-0 victory over ASEAN club champions East Bengal in the quarter-finals at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata on Monday evening.
The all-important goal was scored by substitute Sushant Mathew late in the second-half.
Matthew scored in the 85th minute against the run of play with a spectacular side volley to send the fancied Kolkata outfit crashing out of the tournament.
Following a free-kick by Dennis Cabral, East Bengal central defender Mahesh Gawli tried to clear, but succeeded in despatching the ball only as far as K Ajayan, standing close by. Ajayan headed towards Matthew, who promptly put the ball home, much to the dismay of a sizeable crowd in the stands.
East Bengal, riding high after the Jakarta conquest, paid the penalty for complacency and inept finishing.
The Red and Gold brigade coach Subhas Bhowmick rested several key players, including Suley Musah, Deepak Mondal, Sasthi Duley and Sur Kumar from the starting line-up, but had to induct Musah in the second session as striker after he found his charges repeatedly floundering before the opponent's goal.
Vasco, on the other hand, grittily defended for almost the entire stretch of the match, and attacked on the counter, though on a few occasions, before scoring the winner.
The Goan team's goalkeeper, Saji Joy, put up an outstanding performance, bringing off at least three fine saves, while the woodwork stood in the way of a Mike Okoro effort three minutes from time.
Vasco will now take on Mumbai outfit Mahindra United in the second semi-final on August 6.
