Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Pax of Nagoa Sports Club fought gallantly to register a fluent 3-1 win over Goa Police Sports Club in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, on Friday.
Goa Police did have the better of exchanges in the first session of play where in the 12th minute they surged ahead.
Goa Police medio Mayuresh Naik sent a square pass to Kunal Salgaonkar who outwitted the rushing Pax of Nagoa SC custodian Aryan Surwade and placed the ball into the goal, 1-0.
However, it did not take long for the Salcete side Pax of Nagoa SC to net the equaliser, which came in the 19th minute of play. Schubert Pereira found his partner Vanlallawmtluanga inside the 18-yard box who banged the ball into the far corner of the goal, 1-1.
Earlier in the match, in the 10th minute, Goa Police’s Abdul Khan sent an intelligent through pass to his striker U-21 Brennan D’Souza, who failed to beat the onrushing Pax of Nagoa SC custodian Aryan Surwade.
Goa Police continued to exert pressure but medio Mayuresh twice saw his strikes in the 34th and 45th minute travel over the crossbar. On crossing over, in the 54th minute, a stiff grounder by Stephen Satarkar at the far end of the post was brilliantly collected by Goa Police custodian Saiesh Kunkolkar.
In the 57th and 60th minute, Goa Police had two chances to take the lead but Shubham Shirwaikar fumbled in front of the goal off a cross from Mayrush and minutes later Mayrush was late to finish Kunal Salgaonkar through pass.
Pax of Nagoa SC coach Mateus Costa brought his triumph card Beniston Baretto from the bench where he was instrumental in scoring two goals.
In the 75th minute, he controlled a through pass from Stephen Satarkar and finished clinically, 2-1.
Just two minutes later, Beniston should have scored his brace but he blasted wide after Stephen’s strike from close was blocked by Goa Police custodian. However, at the strike of 90th minute, Stephen did the spadework for Beniston to score and take the score tally to 3-1.