PANJIM: Vasco Sports Club and Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club played a goalless draw, in GFA’s Goa Professional League, round nine football match, at Duler stadium, Mapusa, Monday.
Tuff Laxmi are now placed second with 17 points while Vasco are in the fourth spot from the bottom with nine points from as much as nine outings.
The initial stages of the match saw more of Tuff Laxmi having a better look at their rival’s goals but the frontline lacked cohesion amongst its strikers especially between Tuff’s ace striker Opara and Manuel Fernandes. Manuel was replaced by Valerio Rodrigues who did make a difference.
In the 15th minute, Opara should have put Tuff Laxmi ahead but his try could not find the cage from close range.
Later Jaison Dias received the lob from the centre, ran down the left flank and should have shot on the run. But lacking the killer instinct his angle was narrowed down by Tuff defenders.
In the 29th minute, Mackroy Piexoto could have slotted home for Tuff Laxmi, but eager to get closer to Vasco goal he had the mortification to see a Tuff defender deflect his shot, which resulted in a futile corner-kick.
With Vasco’s midfield functioning well, the team got into the groove and also conducted raids on Tuff Laxmi custody.
In the 35th minute, Vasco’s livewire Jerose Oliveira was in Tuff Laxmi’s danger zone yards away from rival goalkeeper but surrounded with a host of Tuff Laxmi’s defenders he sent a back pass to Quan Gomes, whose ballooned over the crossbar.
The match swung to and fro both ends, saw Marcus fumbling the ball in the 38th minute with the Vasco framework staring at him, after being put through by Opara. Rather then taking a left foot shot he switched the ball to his right foot, wasting time in the bargain. His shot was then deflected by an advancing Vasco defender Rajat Chopdekar.
Just before the break, Vasco had its best and easy chance of the match, but Jerose failed to slide the ball in with only Tuff Laxmi keeper Jason D’Mello to beat.
At the breather the skies opened up, though the downpour was not severe. The strategies of the team did not change and restore the match to mostly midfield.
Tuff laxmi though had a couple of chances that came their way to break the jinx.
In the 80th minute a dangerous looking free-kick by substitute Valerio saw Vasco keeper Francis Fernandes stretching to put the ball away and then in the 87th minute substitute Seriton Fernandes dribbled past two Vasco defenders before passing the ball to Valerio, whose powerful shot was deflected for a futile corner- kick.
