Vasco 1 Somerset Eagles 3

Somerset Eagles advanced into the next round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 3-1 win over Vasco at Police Field on Sunday with all goals coming in the second half.

Play was evenly balanced from the opening whistle. Midway through the first half, striker Rushaine Murphy had a golden opportunity to put Eagles ahead when he intercepted a weak goalbound effort only to hit a firm drive directly at Vasco goalkeeper Treaz Place.

Vasco responded immediately with Marco Diogo getting off a shot, which Eagles goalkeeper Hubert Butterfield pushed over the top at the near post.

Vasco’s Leo Burgess then beat his marker before cutting inside and unleashing a scorcher which the Eagles goalkeeper did well to palm away from danger.

Just before the half-time whistle, Place had to be at his best to push Murphy’s snapshot drive over the bar.

Vasco were nearly gifted the opener just after the restart when Makal Robinson robbed defender Kyshon Burgess on the edge of the box but Place did well to push his effort in the air before catching it.

Vasco should have opened the scoring when Luke Horan, also known for his cricket skills, won possession and fed Logan Viera but he would shoot tamely at Butterfield. Minutes later, they had a further chance but Diogo would rattle the crossbar.

Eagles started to dominate play and would open the scoring in the 76th minute. A defensive mix-up between Burgess and Place allowed Nathan Rego to scoop in and side-foot beyond the advancing Place into the empty net. Rego would then double the lead five minutes later when he beat the offside trap to chip over the diving goalkeeper.

The Eagles were soaring high and would score their third when Kehnai Fray pounced on a loose ball after substitute Marco Basden’s shot hit the upright and bounced back into play.

With time running down Vasco scored a consolation goal, when trickster Diogo made a darting run down the left flank before his chip found Ludgero Ponte, who headed over Butterfield’s outstretched hands.

Goals

Vasco: Ponte 90

Somerset Eagles: Rego 76, 81, K Fray 85

Teams

Vasco: T Place, L Soares, K Arruda, K Cabral, L Viera, L Burgess, L Horan, M Diogo, L Ponte, M Cabral, K Pacheco. Substitutes: J Tavares, J Smith, M Samuels, Z Smith, K Place, C Pacheco.

Somerset Eagles: H Butterfield, Malahku Salassie, E Fubler, Moziah Salassie, R Edwards, K Fray, M Groves, M Robinson, K Butterfield, N Rego, R Murphy. Substitutes: D Dowling, Q Watson, S Hewey, T Smith, T Emery, J Santucci, M Basden

Referee: D Jackson