GPL 2019-20: 5-star Sporting Goa drub Guardian Angel

Marcus Mascarenhas scored a hat-trick for the Flaming Orange.

Marcus Mascarenhas' hat-trick helped Sporting Clube de Goa to  hammer Guardian Angel Sports Club by a fluent 5-0 margin in the Goa Professional League on Friday. U-20 player Stendly Fernandes and Nigerian striker Philip Odogwu scored the other goals for the Flaming Orange.

Guardian Angel head coach Riston Rodrigues made only one change to his side which defeated Corps of Signals in the previous match. U-20 midfielder Precio D'Souza received the nod along with keeper Melroy Fernandes and U-20 forward Stendlt Fernandes, who made a comeback for the Flaming Orange.

After end-to-end play in the first few minutes, Guardian Angel had a chance to surge ahead in the ninth minute against Sporting Goa when a cross by James Fernandes found Ghanaian striker Bamba Mudah in the box. However, the forward failed to control the ball with just the keeper in front of him. This was the only time when the hosts came close to scoring in the first half.

[KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

Although Sporting Goa were the dominant side from the beginning, it took them the first 15 minutes to create their first chance. Marcus Mascarenhas cut past a defender at the edge of the box before shooting, only to see it easily collected by Guardian Angel keeper Geet Gupta.

Sporting Goa came close to scoring once again when Assumption Soares's low cross was smartly directed in the goal by Marcus. However, Guardian Angel defender James rescued his side with a goalline clearance.

After some probing attacks, the visitors finally managed to break the deadlock in the 26th minute when Guardian Angel defence failed to clear Girish Naik's corner and Marcus slotted the ball home to make it 1-0 for Sporting Goa.

[KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

Marcus almost doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Stendly made a darting run on the wing and sent a low cross in the box. However, the forward's attempt was brilliantly blocked by Guardian Angel defender William Niasso.

Sporting Goa doubled their lead in the added minutes of the first half when Girish found Marcus with a through - who converted the chance clinically to make it 2-0 at the half time.

The visitors further extended their lead within 10 minutes in the second half as a long throw-in by Brandon Gomes was flicked to Philip Odogwu by Marcus and the Nigerian striker tapped the ball home, making it 3-0.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Guardian Angel also had an opportunity to reduce the margin in the later part of the match when a quick through from Yakubu Mohammed was collected by Mudah. However, his strike was pushed for a corner by Sporting Goa keeper Melroy.

At the other end, U-20 forward Stendly made it 4-0 for the Flaming Orange as he brilliantly cut past a Guardian Angel defender in the box and put it past the keeper to add one more.

Sporting Goa scored their final goal in the 72nd minute when Marcus completed his hat-trick after receiving a cross from Girish.

In the other games of the day, a 1-1 draw between Dempo SC and FC Goa saw them sharing spoils. The match between Velsao SCC and Salgaocar FC was postponed. Click here for the Goa Pro League 2019-20 points table after this match.