Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA/RAIA: In a Salcete derby, Pax of Nagoa proved too strong for Guardian Angel, defeating them 4-0 in the Goa Professional League, at Duler Stadium, on Thursday.
Pax of Nagoa dominated from the outset, with Delton Colaco scoring twice and Jesloy Moniz and Velroy Fernandes adding a goal each. This commanding victory takes Pax of Nagoa to 12 points, while Guardian Angel remain on 5 points after eight league matches. Guardian Angel were mostly pinned back in the first half, struggling to break free from their own half. Stand-in goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh, replacing the suspended Oswin Rodrigues, was not at his best.
Nagoa nearly opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Jesloy Moniz lobbed an onrushing Gurpreet, only to see his shot hit the crossbar. A minute later, a powerful 25-yard shot by Stephen Satarkar was fumbled by Gurpreet, allowing Delton Colaco to tap in the opener.
Just two minutes later, Moniz rounded Gurpreet and aimed for goal, but James Fernandes blocked the attempt. Pax of Nagoa doubled their lead in the 34th minute, as Desmon Pereira’s cross found Moniz, who headed it home. In first-half stoppage time, Colaco’s right-footed strike deflected off skipper Gilbert Oliveira into the net, making it 3-0.
After the break, Pax of Nagoa continued to press. They nearly scored a fourth when Schubert Pereira’s low shot was blocked by an Angel defender. In the 72nd minute, Satarkar’s shot off the far post found Velroy Fernandes, who smashed it into the corner for the fourth goal.
Guardian Angel had two late chances to reduce the margin through crosses from Cyril Dias, but Nagoa’s keeper Antonio Da Silva intercepted and Clifton Rebello missed the target. Substitute goalkeeper Franklin Gracias made successive saves in the 84th minute to deny Beneton and Schubert from increasing the scoreline.
At SAG ground, Benaulim, Churchill Brothers FC defeated Vasco Sports Club 3-0 to secure full points.
Churchill Brothers dominated most of the match, taking the lead in the 11th minute through Ngathem Imarson Meitei. Lesly Rebello doubled the lead with a penalty in the 62nd minute. Later, Meitei scored his second goal to further secure Churchill Brothers' 3-0 victory.
Earlier, Vasco's Benjamin Lupheng and Kenneth John Pereira, along with Churchill's Joebern Cardozo and Ngathem, missed easy scoring opportunities.