MAPUSA: Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club hammered Vasco Sports Club 4-1 in the 11th round match of the Goa Pro League match, at Duler Stadium, here, on Saturday.
Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC and Vasco SC both have 14 points from equal number of outings.
Minutes into the match, Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC sharpened their attacking prowess and got their first goal of the match when Francis Onyema saw his strike kiss the side post and bounce back into play where Nbuduisi Opara who was lurking nearby fired the ball home for the opener.
Three minutes later, Vasco SC keeper Jerson Pereira brought down Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC skipper Remus Gomes inside the danger zone, prompting referee Shaikh Niazi to award them a penalty. Micky Fernandes who stepped forward to take the spot kick made no mistake to double the lead.
Vasco SC almost reduced the margin in the 35th minute but Agnelo’s strike was blocked by the keeper and the ball moved towards Criston Fernandes, whose effort was kept away by defender Lenston Afonso.
In the injury time, Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC showed they were not done yet and came with the third goal when Agnelo Colaco, who came in as a substitute for Josley Dias, sent a defense splitting pass to Anthony Barbosa, whose attempt at goal was blocked by the keeper only to see the ball once again travel to Nbuduisi Opara who slammed the ball into the nylons.
Crossing over, on receiving some choice words from their coach, Vasco put the happenings of the first half behind them and took the field with renewed vigour and reduced the margin within a minute when Sujil NS set up Hayson Velho, who weaved his way past the defenders and unleashed a powerful grounder from the top of the box which landed into the far corner of Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC nets past the diving keeper Siddhesh Morje.
Within three minutes, Vasco SC were served on the platter when the referee found Stanley D’Silva guilty of handling the ball inside the 18-yard box and pointed to the penalty spot. However, Hayson Velho, who in a hope of scoring his brace, went to take the spot kick only to see his effort go wide to the dismay of his teammates.
After several missed chances from either sides Tuff went back into the scoring act when Agnelo Colaco, saw his long range power-packed strike crash into the Vasco nets to make it 4-1.
In the 74th minute brought about one of the most debatable moments of the match when Shubham Desai saw his strike from the top left corner of the box hit the Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC upright and land on the goal-line before keeper Siddhesh Morje rushed to collect ball.
Our Margao correspondent adds: Churchill Bros SC and Dempo SC played out a goalless draw at Navelim ground.
The teams dished out attacking football but failed to score.
Churchill Bros’ Pankaj Sona saw his powerful grounder blocked by defender Shallum Pires. Thereafter, Dempo SC’ Kapil Hoble squandered an opportunity as he shot wide.
Churchill Bros were awarded a spot-kick in the 15th minute but Pankaj’s effort hit the upright.
