MAPUSA: Two late goals saw Guardian Angel SC edge past Vasco Sports Club by a 2-1 margin in the Goa Professional League organised by GFA at Duler Stadium, on Friday.
All the goals came in the second session of play with Port Towners taking the lead through Denvil Fernandes while Joel Barretto and Gilbert Oliveira scored for Guardian Angel SC.
In a dull first session, play was mostly restricted to the midfield with both the goalkeepers being hardly tested.
The Vasco SC under their new coach Norbert Gonsalves, fielded most of the outstation players in his starting XI, while Guardian Angel’s coach Riston Rodrigues relied on his local talent.
Just forty seconds after the breather Guardian Angel SC took the lead when a cross by Velon Rebello was controlled and finished by Joywin Costa into the empty goal, only to find referee Ritesh Parsekar disallowing the goal as Joywin handled the ball.
Port Towners finally regrouped themselves when in the 64th minute Khaidem Meitei strike from outside the penalty box was collected by Angel’s custodian Oswin Rodrigues.
However, the keeper could do very little, to stop Vasco SC taking the lead a minute later. A long ball by Chadel Fernandes was collected by substitute Denvil Fernandes who hoodwinked stopper back Akram Yadwad and drilled a left footer inside the goal at the first post, 1-0.
Guardian Angel SC’s Joel Barretto strike sailed skywards while James Fernandes corner was smartly blocked by Vasco’s custodian Senapati Mondal.
In the 80th minute Guardia Angel SC’s goalkeeper Oswin brought two outstanding saves to block Denvil Fernandes shot from close and collect Samuel D’Souza placement.
Another glorious chance was squandered by Vasco SC as Rafael Fernandes shot skywards from the penalty spot. Guardian Angel’s Akram handled the ball off a Denvil Fernandes shot prompting the referee to point to the dreaded spot.
From the six minutes of added time Guardian Angel SC not only leveled terms through an intelligent lob by Joel Barretto but saw their skipper Gilbert Oliveira score a gem of a goal as he curled his free kick from outside the penalty box past the Vasco’s defensive wall, 2-1.
Vasco SC’s Denvil Fernandes received the Man-of-the-Match award from the hands of Sanjeev Nagvekar, GFA’s Executive Committee member.
