Guardian Angel resurrects to stun Curtorim Gym

MARGAO: Table toppers Curtorim Gymkhana suffered their first defeat of the campaign as they went down to Guardian Angel Sports Club, Curchorem 2-0 in a 11th round match, of GFA’s First Division football league, at SAG grounds, Assolna, on Monday. All the goals came in the first half.
Guardian Angel dominated the game right from the word go and never allowed their opponents to settle down. They broke the deadlock in the fourth minute after promising striker Jaison Dias beat the rival goalkeeper Olten Fernandes with a clinical finish off a well-measured pass from winger Godfrey Rodrigues.
Guardian Angel carried the confidence and doubled the advantage through Godfrey Rodrigues’ excellent shot that beat the Curtorim Gymkhana goalkeeper Olten Fernandes hands down. Quan Gomes came up with the all-important assist.
Curtorim Gymkhana coach Savio Vaz ringed in the changes that played against Goa Police in the previous match and Guardian Angel could have paid the price for that missed opportunity as Curtorim Gymkhana were awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute following a handball by a rival player but Joaquim Carvalho’s spot-kick hit the upright and fell back to him but the latter shot wide, much to the dismay of Curtorim Gymkhana supporters
Crossing over, Guardian Angel continued to enjoy the better share of exchanges and trouble the rival defence with well orchestrated raids. They had a golden chance to increase their tally but striker Jaison Dias was a bit slow in meeting Joston Pereira’s defence splitting pass. Guardian Angel did have a chance to inflate their tally but Godfrey Rodrigues ballooned over from close range. Their veteran midfielder Johnny D’Cruz played a stellar role for his team and kept his forwards with stream of flawless passes.
However, Guardian Angel were denied a penalty after substitute Mairon Fernandes’ goal bound shot was handled by rival defender Iryiston Moraes inside the penalty area and match referee Mackenize Silveira overlooked the incident.
Curtorim Gymkhana were throwing everything at Guardian Angel, whose back-four looked vulnerable to the counters.
From one such break, Curtorim Gymkhana were awarded a penalty in the 71st minute when defender Michael Faleiro brought down rival Dayle Costa inside the rival penalty box. Michael was sent off with a red card after receiving his second yellow.
However, off the resultant spot-kick, substitute Cliffton Fernandes shot wide.
With this win, Guardian Angel collected 21 points from 11 matches while Curtorim Gymkhana remained on top of the table with 26 points from 11 matches.
At Rosary ground, Navelim, a fine brace by striker Auelon Gomes helped United Club of Tealulim (UCT) blank Goa Police Sports Club 2-0. The winners led 1-0 at the breather. United Club of Telaulim held the upper hand in both the sessions and took the lead at the stroke of the breather when striker Auelon Gomes slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot off a well-measured cross from Cleston Fernandes.
After the break, United Club of Tealulim continued to dictate terms and fired couple of pots shots against the rival goal and Auelon struck his brace in the 78th minute.
At 3MTR ground, Navelim, Corps of Signals walloped Panjim Footballers 5-1 after leading 2-0 at half time. The high light of the day was a brilliant hat-trick by Pankaj Gurkha.
Corps of Signals surged ahead in the 33rd minute when Pankaj punished the rival goal with a neat finish.
Roshan Singh doubled the lead in the 37th minute while Pankaj Gurkha inflated the tally in the 50th minute.
Down by three goals, Panjim Footballers regrouped and in the 53rd minute Charleston Pereira scored a consolation goal.
Pankaj registered his hat-trick in the 59th minute and Solomon drove the last nail into rival coffin in the 73rd minute.