Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Clube de Salgaocar edged past Pax of Nagoa SC 1-0 in a hard-fought Goa Professional League encounter at Duler Stadium, on Friday. The win took Salgaocar’s tally to 19 points from seven matches, while Pax remained on seven from as many outings.
League leaders Salgaocar began aggressively but were frustrated by Pax’s solid defence, with the first half ending goalless. Early strikes from Shridharnath Gawas and Reezvon Fernandes narrowly missed the target, while Pax’s Velroy Fernandes forced a diving save from Salgaocar’s goalkeeper.
Salgaocar squandered further chances when Selwyn Miranda’s cross was miscued from close range and Isac Zomuanpuia’s effort went wide. After the break, coach Keenan Almeida introduced Joshua D’Silva and Thokchom Singh to strengthen the attack. The substitution paid off as Joshua latched onto Zomuanpuia’s through pass and toed the ball into an unguarded net to make it 1-0, silencing the Pax supporters.
Joshua came close to adding a second, but Pax custodian Aryan Surwade produced a brave block before another powerful effort went over. In response, Pax coach Mateus Costa made three substitutions that piled pressure on the Salgaocar defence, but centre-backs Brian Faria and Umang Gaikwad stood firm.
In stoppage time, drama unfolded when Faria brought down Pax skipper Beneston Barretto inside the box, earning a penalty. However, Barretto’s strike was superbly saved by goalkeeper Sanij Bugde, preserving Salgaocar’s slender lead.
Joshua D’Silva was named man-of-the-match and received his award from Anthony Correia, General Secretary of United Club of Nerul.
