Team Herald
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MAPUSA: A brilliant hat-trick by Beneston Barretto helped Guardian Angel Sports Club surprise Salgaocar FA with a 3-1 win in the Goa Professional League played at Duler stadium, here, on Monday.
After Monday’s win, Guardian Angel who were fighting relegation are now on 10 points while Salgaocar FA lost their opportunity to take the top spot and stay on second position with 17 points.
The result also throws the league wild open with Sporting, Dempo and Salgaocar in contest for the title with just two rounds to be played.
It was a stunning first minute goal from Beneston Barretto who collected a curling long through pass from Joel Barretto darted inside the penalty box and beat the helpless onrushing keeper Jason D’Mello with a neat placement to give his side the lead.
Stung by the reverse, Green Brigade came with two threatening attempts at the rival goal in the 12th and 13th minutes but Angel’s keeper Pratheesh Veettil blocked a fierce strike from substitute U-20 Prathamesh Satardekar and a minute later once again this time blocked U-20 Meuren Cruz’s hot blooded shot at the first post.
However, this time, keeper Pratheesh could do very little from Green Brigade scoring their equaliser in the 16th minute. A perfect corner by Selwyn Miranda to unmarked Steflon D’Costa saw the latter nod the ball into the goal.
Three minutes before the breather, Angels scored through U-20 Jovial Dias but Assistant referee Samir Noronha raised his flag for an off-side to the dismay of his teammates.
Angels carried on their onslaught on crossing ends and once again took the lead in the 53rd minute, where Jovial Dias found unmarked Beneston Barretto just inside the penalty box whose first touch was excellent while his finish was superb giving no chance to keeper Jason to make it 2-1.
At the other end, Green Brigade had two chances to level terms but Selwyn Miranda shot wide with only keeper at his mercy while a curling cross by substitute Valentinho Nazareth saw keeper Pratheesh fling himself to his right and pair the ball to safety.
Salgaocar keeper Jason came up with a smart diving save as he managed to get his strong hand to a deadly cross from Beneston.
In the 80th minute, it was almost curtains down for Salgaocar with Beneston Barretto netting his hat-trick.
Mevan Dias’ pass saw Basanta play a dummy to Beneston who after covering almost ten meters entered the penalty box and drove a low grounder which was blocked by the keeper only to find Beneston score of the rebound to make it 3-1.
