TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club ended their campaign on a high with a 4-1 victory over Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in an Airtel Goa Pro League (relegation) match at Duler Stadium, here, Monday.
Laxmi Prasad led 1-0 at half time.
Xamarao Rodrigues opened the floodgates at the half hour mark while Steven Fernandes, Nikhil Naik and Alvito Miranda joined the party in the second session. Shelton Dias pulled one back in the final minutes for Cavelossim.
After 13 rounds, Laxmi Prasad have collected 20 points while Cavelossim have 15 points.
Laxmi Prasad started off on an attacking note with strikers Steven and Alvito leading the attack. Steven created the first scare in the fourth minute when he headed a fine cross from Shashank Ashwekar but Cavelossim keeper Jason D’Mello left them frustrated.
Minutes later, Alvito saw his header kiss the horizontal bar as Laxmi Prasad continued confidently.
In the 27th minute, referee Elvis Simoes awarded the Mapusa-based side a penalty after Cavelossim’s Constancio Rodrigues brought down Steven inside the box with a late challenge. Freiman Peixoto stepped up and converted from the spot but the goal was disallowed due to intrusion. The penalty was retaken and this time Jason came up with a diving save to deny Freiman.
However, four minutes later, Laxmi Prasad broke the deadlock when midfielder Xamarao unleashed a venomous long ranger that took an uneven bounce in front of Jason and found the back of the nylons.
Cavelossim were a subdued lot but their best chance to equalize came before the break. Inacio Colaco’s dangerous flag-kick was headed by Agnelo D’Souza but Freiman came up with a goalline clearance.
Freiman was a livewire for Laxmi Prasad in the second session with daunting runs.
In the 63rd minute, Freiman made a swift run forward in the danger zone but his rasping effort was blocked by Jason. However, the ball rebounded to Steven, who finished with a deft grounder.
Subsequently, Freiman was instrumental yet again as his close ranger was blocked by the rival keeper and fell to under-20 Nikhil Naik, who made it 3-0.
Alvito stunned goalkeeper Jason with a long ranger in the final quarter. Shelton scored a consolation goal for Cavelossim in the dying minutes.
Alvito Miranda was adjudged Most Valuable Player and took home a cash prize of Rs 2,500.
