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MAPUSA: Sesa FA cruised to a dominant 7-1 victory over Panjim Footballers, in the Goa Professional League, at Duler Stadium, on Thursday.
The star of the match was Sachidanand Satelkar, who netted a hat-trick. Savlon Fernandes, Mahammed Faheez, Clencio Pinto and Omkar Shetgaonkar also got on the scoresheet for Sesa. Panjim’s sole goal came early on, courtesy of Benin P B.
This emphatic win takes Sesa FA to 22 points from 11 matches, while Panjim Footballers remain at the bottom with just one point from an equal number of games.
Panjim stunned Sesa with a 7th-minute opener as defender Shubham Vernekar set up Benin P B, who slotted past goalkeeper Sapam Singh. However, Sesa responded immediately through Savlon Fernandes after a misjudged clearance by Panjim’s goalkeeper.
Sesa’s coach, Charles Dias, expressed delight at the return of Mahammed Faheez after his four-month stint in Kerala’s Super League. Faheez was instrumental in three goals and converted a penalty, marking an impressive comeback.
Sachidanand Satelkar showed his clinical finishing, scoring twice from Faheez’s assists and completing his hat-trick from a pinpoint cross by Vignesh Naik.
The seventh goal came in the 87th minute when Omkar Shetgaonkar unleashed a 25-yard strike, leaving Panjim’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Panjim had a chance for a consolation goal in stoppage time after Rohan Kambli’s handball led to a penalty. However, Satish Kankonkar’s effort was saved by Sesa’s goalkeeper.
At the Nagoa Panchayat ground, Pax of Nagoa cruised to a 3-1 win over Churchill Brothers. Nagoa’s Beneston Barretto opened the scoring with a penalty and Shubert Pereira was the star of the show, netting a brace to seal the victory. Churchill Brothers pulled one back through Richard Fernandes, but it was not enough as Pax held on to claim the three points.
