DULER: Guardian Angel SC put up a brave performance to hold Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim to a 1-1 draw in the GFA’s Goa Pro League opener played at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Sunday.
Both the sides played their hearts out keeping the rival keeper’s on their toes.
After some midfield action SCC Cavelossim broke the deadlock in the 14th minute of play when Joshua Vaz ran down the right flank and sent the ball across the face of the Guardian Angel SC goal where Melwin Fernandes was at the right place to nod the ball past the keeper to give his team an early lead.
Guardian Angel side did not allow the goal to deter their spirits and stepped up the attack where in the next minute itself they should have levelled terms but Snedden Rodrigues failed to give finishing touches to Lavino Fernandes’ cross.
Skipper Nicholas Rodrigues who did a remarkable job in the Guardian Angel SC midfield saw his long floater from the left flank go inches past the target.
Their efforts finally paid off in the 30th minute of play when Nicholas saw his powerful header catch his marker on the wrong foot, where overlapping Lavino Fernandes made no mistake to slot it home.
SCC Cavelossim had a glorious chance to once again take the lead in the 41st minute of play when the referee Parmanand Mandrekar found Sanwil D’Costa guilty of pulling down Joshuah Vaz inside the danger zone and pointed towards the penalty spot however Guardian Angel SC keeper came to his sides rescue as he brilliantly blocked Melwin Fernandes’ strike.
Crossing over it was SCC Cavelossim who looked more vicious in their attack but their strikers failed to convert their moves into goals time and again.
Guardian Angel SC keeper Ram Sroop too brought about a series of excellent saves to deny the SCC Cavelossim side from scoring.
In the 64th minute of play Joshua Vaz set the ball on platter to Aaren D’Silva whose shot from the 6-yard box was neatly blocked by the keeper.
No matter however hard they tired luck did not seem to be on SCC Cavelossim’s side as two minutes later Aaren’s header off Velington’s cross banged the Guardian Angel SC woodwork.
A minute later keeper Ram Sroop once again came to his sides rescue as he tipped away stopper back Cresson Antao’s firm header from close range.
In the 75th minute of play SCC Cavelossim once again came attacking where this time Joshua Vaz shot from the 6-yard box was blocked by the Guardian Angel SC keeper.
At the other end Guardian Angel SC had a close chance at the rival goal when in the 78th minute of play as Nicholas Fernandes’ 30-yard free kick sailed just past the target and in the next minute Anthony Pereira curling shot was blocked by SCC Cavelossim keeper, Agnelo Gomes.
Guardian Angel SC keeper was once again at his best as he came with a timely save to deny Ashley Araujo from scoring.
In the 87th minute of play Cavelossim were reduced to ten men after their skipper Cresson Antao was given marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Oilex Oliveira on the edge of the 18-yard box.
