MATCH DELAYED
The match between Tuff Laxmi Prasad and Guardian Angel SC was delayed by 30 minutes as four players from the former team, who featured in the playing XI handed to the match commissioner, did not possess player registration cards issued by the Goa Football Association. The Tuff Laxmi Prasad quartet -- Climax Lawrence, Nicolas Rodrigues, Biju Kumar and Kunal Sawant -- were sans their cards and hence the match was delayed, much to the chagrin of the assembled spectators.
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSATuff Laxmi Prasad got off to an impressive start in their Police Cup campaign as they outplayed Guardian Angel SC 3-0 in their opening match of the thirteenth edition of the premier football tournament, at Duler Stadium on Monday.
Tuff Laxmi Prasad took a 2-0 lead at half-time through strikes from Agnel Colaco (3') and Ndubuiai Opara (17'), while Mackroy added the third in the 53rd minute. The performance of Tuff Laxmi Prasad would have satisfied the team's coach Valentino Eziko, as the Mapusa side fought it out with a man down for virtually the entire second half after their skipper Remus Gomes was sent off for a rash challenge by referee Prasad Surlekar.
Tuff Laxmi Prasad started with a bang as Agnel scored the opener in the third minute, after he was fed upfront by Ndubuisi Rodrigues. Under pressure after the early setback, Guardian Angel made their first substitution by replacing Richard Fernandes with Joaquim Carvalho in the 14th minute. However three minutes later, Guardian Angel slipped further as they conceded a penalty after Agnel was brought down by goalkeeper Johnson just inside the edge of the box, and Ndubuiai Opara converted from the spot to make it 2-0.In the 77th minute, Tuff Laxmi Prasad made their first substitution by replacing Sangam Pednekar with Newton Azavedo. The visitors fought hard and played their hearts out but it was simply not their day. In the 82nd minute, Guardian Angel made another attempt through Incaio Colaco but Tuff Laxmi Prasad goalie Mandar made another save.
Stung by another reverse, Guardian Angel tried to fight back on the counter. In the 23rd minute, Velington Fernandes took a free-kick but it was blocked by the Tuff Laxmi Prasad goalkeeper Mandar Parab. Guardian Angel SC made another attempt in search of their first goal, but Stephen Colaco shot wide from a good position in the 36th min.
Guardian Angel were handed a lifeline as Tuff Laxmi were reduced to ten men, five minutes before the break as Remus was red-carded by the referee, after the Mapusa side's captain recklessly tackled Godfrey Silva. Despite being 2-0 down, the Savordem side went into the breather with renewed hope. But they got a reality check when Tuff Laxmi Prasad extended their advantage with a stiff grounder from Mackroy in the 53rd minute.
SCOREBOX
Tuff Laxmi Prasad 3 (Agnel Colaco 3, Ndubuiai Opara 17, Mackroy 53) beat Guardian Angel SC 0
