the goan I network
DULER
Guardian Angel Sports Club registered a comfortable 2-0 win over Corps of Signals in a Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, at Duler Stadium, here on Saturday.
Both the goals were scored in the second session with Aslon Oliveira, who came from the bench, and skipper Nicholas Rodrigues getting on the scoresheet. After the win, Guardian Angel climbed to third position with 29 points from 18 matches, while Corps of Signals stay on seventh position with 18 points from 17 outings.
Signals coach Sub Rateesh R made just one change to his side which lost to Goan FC in the last match as Shuklab Bordoloi made his first start in the league. Angel gaffer Riston Rodrigues chose to go with the same XI which earned him all three points in the last match against FC Bardez.
Signals colts, cheered by almost 200 odd supporters, had a great chance in the 12th minute when Harshad Thube found Pawan Kumar in the box with a superb cross from the right but the midfielder fumbled with the ball and Angel defender Sanwil D’Costa cleared it to safety. A few minutes later, once again Harshad sent a fine cross to Pawan who chested the ball but failed to keep his strike inside the goal framework.
Angel took time to settle down and once they did they looked just unstoppable. In the 30th minute, Nigerian striker Yakubu Mohammed, who was given very little space to operate by the last line of Signals defence, collected a goalkick from the keeper and after entering the penalty box unleashed a blistering strike from inside the box but Signals keeper Binu Purushothama made a brilliant block.
However just two minutes into the second session, Angel opened their account. Angel were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box where free kick specialist Alson Oliveira, who was brought from the bench, superbly curled the ball into the nets, leaving rival keeper Binu rooted to the ground, 1-0.
In the 60th minute, Signals had a chance to equalise when substitute Lairellakpam Singh was just left with Angel keeper to beat but his shot from an acute angel failed to find the net. The match was restricted to midfield for the next 22 minutes and Angel doubled their lead in the 82nd minute through skipper Nicholas Rodrigues, who coved almost 20 metres and connected a low cross from Perryson Rebello from the right flank to score. In the 89th minute, Angel almost scored their third goal but keeper Binu came with a superb save as he parried the ball for a corner to deny Clifton Dias from scoring.
