Guardian Angel leave it late against dominant Vasco

The Port Towners suffered their fifth defeat in a row.

Ashley Araujo came off the bench to score the winner for Guardian Angel Sports Club, as they edged past Vasco Sports Club by a solitary goal in the Goa Professional League match played at Navelim Football Ground on Thursday afternoon.

Angels coach Riston Rodrigues made no changes to his side following a high-scoring 2-2 draw against Churchill Brothers in the last match. While Vasco coach Micky Fernandes introduced newly-signed Nigerian duo, Pen Orji and Henry Ezeh into the lineup. U-20 starlet Darren Rebello also made his debut for the Port Towners.

The match started with a quick attack from Angels as they took just a minute to have a look at goal, when their most experienced midfielder Nicholas Rodrigues tried his luck from the edge of the box, but Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa made a comfortable save.

Vasco completely dominated the next 30 minutes in terms of possession. However, they took 15 minutes to create their first chance of the match, when their U-20 striker Aman Govekar cut past a defender and shot from outside the box, but his shot missed the target by a whisker.

With complete domination of the ball, the Port Towners once again came close to scoring in the 31st minute, when Aman curled the ball to Nigerian striker Henry, who easily dribbled past two opponents and went for glory, only to see it fly over the crossbar.

Angels also had a chance to surge ahead in the 34th minute, when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, but Nicholas’ goalbound attempt was nicely fisted over the crossbar by Vasco custodian Thapa for a corner.

On crossing over, Vasco continued to dominate the match with attacking play and came close to scoring within three minutes after changing ends, as both the Nigerians combined well in the box, but Henry’s overhea- kick went over the crossbar from six yards.

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Vasco had another chance in the next five minutes, as this time Schubert Pereira made a through pass to Henry in the box, who again cut it back to Schubert, but the midfielder failed to keep his hot on target from the edge of the box.

A few minutes later, Schubert was in a commanding position to take his side into the lead, but this time his goalbound attempt was brilliantly pushed away for a corner by Angels keeper Ozen Silva.

Just after the hour mark, Vasco gaffer Micky brought in striker Beneston Barretto to replace U-20 starlet Aman and the striker brought pace to the match, as he himself had a golden chance to put his side ahead, when he danced past three defenders in the box, but failed to keep his shot on target.

A few minutes later, he had another opportunity when the U-20 winger found him with a perfect through pass, but like last time, the forward shot wide in a one-on-one situation. Beneston wasted another opportunity in the 76th minute, as he shot at onrushing Angels keeper Ozen instead of directing the ball into the goal.       

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The next five minutes saw Angels keeper Ozen come up with two brilliant saves, as on both occasions he made a diving effort to deny Schubert in a one-on-one.

At the other end, Angels stunned the Port Towners in the 83rd minutes, when Clinton Niasso’s fine cross was smartly headed in by Ashley Araujo to make it 1-0 for the Curchorem side.