Team Herald
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MAPUSA/RAIA: Panjim Footballers managed to edge past Calangute Association SC by 2-1 margin in the Goa Professional Relegation League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Friday.
In a thrilling encounter, both the teams having lost their earlier two league matches came into the match all focused to return home with a win.
For Panjim Footballers who are languishing at the bottom of the league table with just five points played their hearts out to score a goal in each session of play through U-21 Kavya Katkar in the 24th minute of play with a neat placement and Richie Vaz scored the winning goal in the 65th minute through his individual brilliancy.
Calangute Association with 13 points before the start of the Relegation League did have their chances but Vishesh Nasnodkar managed to score his first strike from the penalty spot in the 35th minute, but missed the second kick in the second session to level terms.
In another match, Pax of Nagoa got the better of Churchill Brothers 3-0 at the Nagoa panchayat ground, on Friday.
Pax of Nagoa wasted no time asserting their dominance, breaking the deadlock early through Velroy. Stephen Satarkar orchestrated the move, weaving past his marker before teeing up Velroy, who took a touch and rifled a fierce strike into the net.
The hosts doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion – Satarkar slipping a precise through ball to Adarsh on the left, who curled a stunning effort into the top corner.
Pax of Nagoa nearly added the third goal before the break as Nickson Castanha whipped in a dangerous cross, finding Satarkar unmarked, but his close-range effort went just wide.
Churchill Brothers struggled to carve out clear-cut chances, with Jobern Cardoz’s shot from the edge of the box comfortably collected by the Pax of Nagoa goalkeeper.
The second half saw Pax of Nagoa put the game to bed.
Satarkar, at the heart of everything, sliced open the Churchill Brothers defence with a pinpoint pass to Beneston Barretto. A defensive lapse saw the Churchill Brothers keeper fail to collect, allowing Barretto to pounce and roll the ball into an empty net.
Churchill Brothers pushed forward in search of a response, with Haokip squandering two good chances – first dragging a first-time effort wide from a Scott cross and later missing the target after being played through by Richard. But Pax of Nagoa’s defence stood tall, sealing a dominant
3-0 win.
