Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Guardian Angel Sports Club held Youth Club of Manora to a 1-1 draw to steal a valuable point in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, here on Thursday.
Youth Club of Manora were leading 1-0 at half time through a Nicholas Fernandes’ strike and looked destined for three points until the 92nd minute but Mevan Dias found the equaliser for Guardian Angel.
Youth Club of Manora ,after a disappointing loss in their first match, showed great promise and cohesion in their attack with Nicholas Fernandes and U-20 Melisho Camotio troubling the Guardian Angel defense with their quick runs and turns.
It needed the brilliance of Angel's keeper Pratheesh Veettil who brought two smart saves, first stopping Caetano Fernandes firm grounder and then showing great reflexes to hold on to Nicholas well executed free kick from top of the box.
Manora finally tasted success in the 19th minute which could be considered as the best goal of this year`s league when Nicholas Fernandes getting hold off a long ball from the defense kept out the challenge from Guardian Angel defender’s to curl the ball into the far corner of the net.
Changing end, Manora set back and defended the one goal lead while Angel`s kept pushing for the equalizer with Beneston Barretto unleashing a fierce left footed shot which was well kept out for a corner by keeper Luis Barreto.
Angel`s needed to be thankful to their keeper Pratheesh for keeping them in the match as he time and again denied Nicholas Fernandes from getting on the score sheet.
Minutes into the match Manora keeper Luis Barreto brought a top notch save as he dived full length to keep out U-20 Yunal Fernandes hot-blooded shot from finding the net for Guardian Angel Just when it looked Manora were heading home with full three the Guardian Angel lads just refused to give up and were rewarded for their persistence with a goal in 92nd minute when substitute Mevan Dias getting hold off a ball on the right flank from the midfield beat the offside trap, darted towards the goal and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net, 1-1
GASC almost completed the turnaround with the winning goal minutes later but Mevan with an open goal gapping in front of him tapped the ball over the crossbar from an inch perfect cross by James to the utter disbelief of his teammates and the dugout.