MARGAO: A brilliant brace by Nigerian striker ND Opara enabled Tuff Laxmi Prasad to record a 2-1 win over Air Force and enter the quarter-finals of Pool A in the preliminary qualifying round of 127th Durand Cup football tournament, at 3MTR ground, Navelim, Thursday. Tuff Laxmi Prasad led 1-0 at half time.
The Bardez side started the game on an attacking mode and kept marching forward and the Air Force citadel fell in the 21st minute when Opara outpaced his markers after receiving the ball from the left and punished the rival goalkeeper Shibin Raj with deft placement.
N D Opera failed to score a couple of clear chances in the opening session after tasting the success.
Tuff Laxmi Prasad controlled the proceeding in the first half and had the lion’s share of exchanges.
At the other end, Air Force struggled but put up an improved display and raised the game by several notches as they fetched the equalizer in the 50th minute when striker Vivek headed home off a well executed floater from Shahbaz M.
However, Tuff Laxmi Prasad went into attacking mode and took control over the proceedings and had chance to make it 2-1 in the 60th minute but Opera blasted wide.
The match-winner came in the 65th minute after Opera slotted past the rival goalkeeper after receiving a defence splitting pass by Marcus Mascarenhas.
