MAPUSA: Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club were held to a 1-1 draw by Churchill Bros Sports Club in a round three fixture of the Goa Pro League match, at Duler Stadium, here, on Tuesday. There was no score at half time.
Substitute Agnelo Colaco broke the deadlock for Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC in the 63rd minute but Churchill Bros SC equalized in the 75th minute through a powerful header by Manfred Rodrigues.
Churchill Bros SC move on top of the standings with seven points after two wins and a draw.
Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC are in the ninth spot with two points.
Samson Fernandes created an early opening for The Red Machines as he put his strike partner Pankaj Sona through on goal but the rival keeper Kunal Sawant came to his sides rescue with a close range save.
At the other end, Tuff Laxmi Prasad who were searching for their first victory of the campaign kept pressurizing rivals. Nicholas Rodrigues’ three flag-kicks did not materialize as two were cleared by the rival defence and one was headed inches wide by Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC centre-back Stanley D’Silva.
At the half hour mark, Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC replaced U-20 striker Veegan Ferrao in place of Agnelo who quickly got into action with a fierce grounder, eventually blocked by Churchill Bros SC custodian Alliston Fernandes.
Just before the lemon break, Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC almost gifted their rivals a goal when Stanley’s intended back pass fell in the path of Pankaj but the latter shot straight into the hands of the rival keeper.
Post resumption, Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC came close to scoring but Biju Kumar’s header off an Agnelo flag-kick was blocked by keeper Alliston in the 58th minute.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 63rd minute by Agnelo. A dangerous cross by Remus Gomes from the right flank was fisted away by keeper Alliston but Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC’s Nigerian striker Ndubuisi Opara did well to get to the ball and feed Agnelo, who bulged the nylons with a grounder with the rival custodian out of his position.
Minutes later, Churchill Bros SC almost equalized but Mackroy Peixoto came up with a goalline clearance to deny Samson.
However, in the 75th minute, Churchill Bros SC equalized as Manfred Rodrigues headed in a perfect cross by Pankaj.
