Tuff Laxmi Prasad’s N.D. Opera scored a brace to down Air Force 2-1 in the preliminary qualifying round of the 127th Durand Cup played at the Signals ground here on Thursday.
Air Force put up a better performance in the second half and reduced the margin in the 50th minute through Vivek.
Laxmi Prasad shot into the lead in the 21st minute when Opera received the ball on the left and raced into the box before beating ’keeper Shibin Raj with a deft placement.
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Laxmi Prasad could have enhanced the lead in the first but for some poor finishing by Seriton Kundaikar (once) and Opera.
The second-half saw Air Force finding the equaliser when Vivek headed the ball into the net from inside the box off a cross from Shahbaz M.
Laxmi Prasad regrouped after the equaliser and went ahead again in the 65th minute when Opera shot home beating Shibin off a through a pass from Marcus Mascarenhas.
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The result: Tuff Laxmi Prasad 2 (Opera 21 & 65) bt Air Force 1 (Vivek 50).