Guardian Angel pip 10-man Vasco SC to move out of relegation spot

Ravish Narvekar

The Ghanaian forward Frank Adusie who was judged Man of the Match, scored the all-important goal for the Curchorem side, for the second time in a row.

Guardian Angel Sports Club secured back-to-back victories as they edged past Vasco Sports Club by a solitary goal in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Sunday evening.

Vasco gaffer Micky Fernandes had made many changes to his side following a defeat in the last match at the hands of Sesa FA as Suman Lepcha, Milton Gomindes and Irfan Khan made the first start of the season for the Port Towners. Whereas, Angels who defeated Sesa FA to secure their first win of the season in the previous encounter had only one change as U20 defender Milroy Clement replaced Leedon Fernandes in the starting XI.

After an end-to-end affair from the word go, it was the Curchorem side who came close to finding the net in the 6th minute as a long clearance by their defence was nicely controlled by Ghanaian forward Frank Adusie but he shot wide from inside the box. They once again went on to check rival keeper Luis Barreto as an Angels' Fedrich Fernandes went for glory from a long distance freekick but Vasco custodian made a timely clearance.

Vasco also had the best chance to take the lead in the 12th minute when Cavin Lobo set up Felix Chidi in the box with a brilliant lob pass but the Nigerian forward couldn't shoot past the opponent keeper from close range. The ball rolled to Savlon Fernandes who fed Felix once again in the box but this time also he headed over the crossbar. A few minutes later, Cavin once again set up Felix with a pin-point perfect corner but like earlier, the Nigerian once again wasted an easy opportunity as his weak header was comfortably collected by Angels keeper Oswin Rodrigues.

The Port Towers came with a series of attacks just before the half-hour mark as Savlon made great footwork to enter the box and tried his luck only to see it block by Angels' defence line. The ball travelled to unmarked Milton who quickly turned and shoot at the goal from the 6-yard box but Angels keeper Oswin came with a brilliant save to deny the U20 midfielder. A minute later, Cavin nicely controlled the long clearance by his teammate and cut past a few opponents before firing a powerful strike from the edge of the box but once again Angels last line made brilliant work to block his goalbound strike.

At the other end, Angels Ghanaian forward Frank was unlucky not to take his side into the lead as Vasco defender Khrawkupar Tamu failed to clear a long pass from their skipper Gilbert Oliviera as Frank took control of the loose ball and entered the box but his stiff grounder rebound off the side post just before the halftime.

The second half started with a box-to-box fight where both sides tried to breach each other's last line but it was Angels' Frank who succeeded in the 52nd minute. After receiving a defence-splitting through pass from substitute Shubham Jena, clinically finished the ball in the net to make it 1-0.

They almost doubled their lead in the 59th minute as Shubham nicely danced past Vasco's defenders and tried his luck from just inside the box where his curling strike beat Vasco's diving keeper Luis but hit the frame and came out. The loose ball was later cleared by their left-back Ganesh Thakur.

Vasco coach Micky brought in Francisco Fernandes and Varun Mathur replacing exhausted Ashley Fernandes and Prajwal Ghadi just after the hour mark. The changes brought some pace to Vasco's attacks as they made quick raids in the next few minutes.

However, the Port Towers suffered a blow in the 73rd minute as back-to-back yellow cards in a gap of two minutes to Suman, reduced Vasco to a 10-man. Even with a man short, Vasco had a great opportunity to level back within the next three minutes as a fine touch from Cavin set up Francisco inside the box but the substitute shot wide from hand-shaking distance.

The Port Towers who were a goal down and also with a man down brought in Beevan D'Mello who replaced the Nigerian forward Felix but the experienced forward could not make any impact until full time.