MAPUSA: Salgaocar Football Club did enough to edge past Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club 1-0 in Goa Football Association’s Goa Professional League, round two football match, at Duler Stadium, here, on Wednesday.
Thangjam Singh scored the all-important goal of the match in the 13th minute after his fierce 25-yarder deflected off his teammate and evaded the rival custodian.
Salgaocar are in the second place in the standings with four points while Laxmi Prasad are in the sixth position with one point.
Nigerian Chika Wali made his debut for Laxmi Prasad against his former club. The centre-back started ahead of Ali Mohamed along side skipper Remus Gomes, Stanley D’Silva and Prajot Naik in a 4-4-2 formation with Pedro Gonsalves and Marcus Mascarenhas heading the attack.
Salgaocar head coach Derrick Pereira adopted the same playing formation as their opponents which saw under-20 Myron Broges partner Ivorian Douhou Pierre upfront.
The Mapusa-based side made a promising start to the proceedings but eventually, Salgaocar established control with better ball possession.
The Green Brigade surged ahead in the 13th minute after a venomous 25-yard strike by Thangjam deflected off teammate Douhou Pierre and evaded rival keeper Jason D’Mello hands down, 1-0.
Laxmi Prasad were unfortunate to concede the goal but worked hard in search of the equalizer. Freiman Peixoto worked his class in midfield and soon created an opening for Marcus with a clever through ball but Salgaocar keeper Karanjit Singh did well to come out of his area and thwart the attack.
Just before the half hour mark, Augustin Fernandes came to Salgaocar’s rescue when the defender cleared a Nerry Alfonso effort at goalline.
Changing over, Laxmi Prasad started in a renewed sense of purpose and were gifted a glorious chance to score after Karanjit’s miss timed Clarence fell to Laxmi Prasad’s Valerio Rodrigues inside the danger zone. However, Valerio shot wide in front of the open goal with his weaker right-foot, adding to the frustration of the fans.
Laxmi Prasad showed good determination in the final quarter but it was just not their day as Ckika’s header missed the target by inches of a flag-kick by Mackroy Peixoto.
Salgaocar could have added another in the dying minutes after miscommunication by the rival defence but Gilbert Olivera’s attempt went wide.
