PANJIM: Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club anchored themselves in second position with 16 points at the end of their penultimate Goa Professional League match beating reigning champions Sporting Clube de Goa with a convincing 2-0, at Duler stadium, Mapusa, Wednsday. Sporting Clube de Goa are in fourth position with 11 points.
In their last match before the league advances into the second phase, Tuff Laxmi will face Vasco Sports Club on October 6 while Sporting Clube will take on Churchill Bros on October 10.
The top five teams will play in the elite Super League for while the bottom five will play in the Relegation League.
Tuff Laxmi had five former Sporting Clube players in their ranks in the form of Freiman Peixote, Prajot Naik, Mackroy Peixote, Mohammed Ali and Valerio Rodrigues. They all put up a spirited performance that came haunting for the Panjim outfit coached by Spaniard Oscar Bruzon.
In the earlier round, Sporting Club were also humiliated by Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in a 3-2 defeat.
Tuff Laxmi scored a goal in either session through Alvito Miranda and livewire Nigerian Ndubuisi Opara.
Early on, Alvito intercepted a clearance by Sporting keeper Melroy Fernandes but the forward saw his try rebound off the top corner of the goal.
Once again Alvito again failed to connect off a corner-kick and then Manuel Fernandes shot went.
However, Valentine Ezeugo’s side broke the deadlock in the 44th minute when Nigerian Ndubusi Opara caught the Sporting defense off guard when he sent in a dangerous aerial ball to Alvito, who beat the off-side trap and lobbed the ball over onrushing Sporting Clube keeper Melroy, 1-0.
After the breather, Sporting Clube went in search for an equalizer. Mauvin Borges’ powerful effort was stalled by Tuff Laxmi defender Stanley D’Silva and then, Beevan D’Mello’s stinging shot was dealt by Tuff skipper Remus Gomes.
Sporting keeper Melroy also contributed with a clinical save off substitute Seriton Fernandes. In the resultant corner kick Melroy again came to his side’s rescue by fisting away Mohamed Ali’s powerful header.
Opara finally increased the tally by connecting a clever pass from Seriton Fernandes. The Nigerian swiftly dribbled past a host of Sporting Clube defenders and slotted the ball the rival keeper in clinical fashion, much to the delight of the supporters.
In the final quarter, Sporting Clube created chances but their midfield lacked creativity. They also missed their star striker Victorino Fernandes, who joined the India team for the upcoming international friendlies.
