MAPUSA: Newly promoted Guardian Angel Sports Club were clinical as they stunned Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club 3-1 in the opening match of the Goa Professional League, at Duler Stadium, here, on Sunday.
Austern Fernandes gave them the lead before half time but Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC equalized in the 74th minute through Ndubuist Opara. However, the Riston Rodrigues coached outfit put a brave show and scored two quick goals in the 78th and 82th minutes through substitute Estevan Mendes and Gammy Costa.
For the entire first session, there was only one shot on target which resulted into a goal for Guardian Angel SC. Former India International Anthony Pereira sent in a perfect through ball inside the danger zone and Gammy did well to muscle past Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC centre-back Micky Fernandes.
Eyeing the opportunity, Austern made a daunting run forward and nodded in the low cross sent in by Gammy to break the deadlock in the 43d minute.
Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC were heartbroken after dominating the proceedings from the start. Their under-20 striker Veegan Ferrao had two glorious opportunities to score but faltered at the last moment. It was in the very second minute when hardworking medio Agnelo Colaco had sent in a perfect ball for Veegan but the latter shot wide.
Seven minutes later, Guardian Angel SC custodian Jovial Coutinho failed to collect the ball clearly off a free-kick from Agnelo. However, Veegan headed over the horizontal bar from hand-shaking distance.
Post resumption, Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC coach Valentine Ezeugo introduced Climax Lawrence and Sangam Pednekar as U-20’s Veegan and Josley Dias were sacrificed.
The Bardez side dominated the proceedings and took eight corner kicks which were however of no use. The equalizer finally arrived in the 74th minute when Mackroy Peixoto’s cross was headed in by Opara.
Their joy lasted for only four minutes as at the other end, Estevan powerfully headed in a flag-kick taken by Nicolau Borges.
In the 82nd minute, Mackroy lost the ball to Meclon Colaco in the midfield and it cost them dearly as custodian Kunal Sawant could not clear the ball to safety off a rasping right footer by Meclon.
Gammy pulled the ball away from Kunal’s reach and bulged in the nylons to make it 3-1 for a loud applause from the fans.
In the dying minutes, Gammy could have easily registered a hat-trick but instead, ballooned over with only the rival keeper at his mercy.
