Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: A 95th minute goal by Ronil Azavedo enabled Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare Sports Club to hold Guardian Angel SC by 1-1 margin in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, on Thursday.
Both goals came in the second session of play through the boots of Guardian Angel SC’s Clifton Rebello (47th minute) and Cortalim Villagers Ronil Azavedo (95th minute).
Guardian Angel SC playing their first league match had better of the exchanges and attempts at the rival goal in the first session of play.
Cortalim Villagers having won their last league match should have taken an early second minute lead but Preston Fernandes fumbled in toeing the ball into the net from inside the 6-yard box.
Guardian Angel SC’s squandered numerous goal scoring opportunities in the first session.
Maxson Lopes placement from close went just past the goal post.
In the 38th minute, a corner by skipper Gilbert Oliveira saw Cortalim Villagers’ custodian Abhijeet Subba sway the ball over the crossbar from Cyril Dias header. Another glorious chance went abegging for Guardian Angel SC’s in the 41st minute where a long cross from the right flank by Cyril Dias saw unmarked Maxson and onrushing Cortalim Villagers’ custodian collide and the ball hit the side goal post and return back to play.
Just two minutes on resumption of play and Guardian Angel SC’s took their lead. A long floater by U-21 Rayan Menezes was connected by striker Clifton Rebello which brushed rival goalkeeper Abhijeet gloves and entered the goal, 1-0.
Down by a goal Cortalim Villagers time and again attacked the rival citadel but the last line of Guardian Angel SC’s defence marshalled by stopper backs Peter Carvalho and U-21 Livan Clemente along with wing backs Milroy Clement and Fedrich Fernandes curbed the attacks.
A rasping strike by Pushkar Prabhu was brilliantly paired for a corner by Guardian Angel SC goalkeeper Oswin Rodrigues, while skipper Ronil Azavedo saw his left footer from inside the 18-yard box sail just over the Guardian Angel SC’s crossbar.
In the 90th minute, Guardian Angel SC’s custodian flung to his right to collect Velroy Carvalho’s header at the far top corner of the goal.
With eight minutes of added time Guardian Angel SC’s James Fernandes was sent off with second booking by Referee Ritesh Parsekar.
In the 94th minute, finally, Cortalim Villagers levelled terms through their skipper Ronil Azavedo, who scored off Minesh Kunkolkar’s corner, 1-1.