Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: A 91st-minute header by Joseph Clemente enabled Pax of Nagoa SC to register a solitary goal win over Vasco SC in the Goa Professional League, played at Duler Stadium, on Tuesday.
With today’s win, Pax of Nagoa now has three points, equal to Vasco SC, with both teams playing their third GPL match.
Vasco coach Joao Rebello started his full Starting XI from the North East, except for two U-21 Goan players. Meanwhile, Pax of Nagoa coach Mateus Costa started with an all-Goan squad except for goalkeeper Vishal Sunar.
Early in the match, Pax of Nagoa's custodian twice left his line to thwart Vasco's Lalnunzama in one-on-one situations. In the 23rd minute, Vasco's striker Lalnunzama collected a long ball from Benjamin Lupheng, rounded off Nagoa's custodian, and shot at goal, but his effort was blocked by defender Joseph Clemente.
Another glorious chance went begging for Vasco in stoppage time. Lupheng moved almost from the centre, and upon entering the 18-yard box, drilled a powerful right-footer, which was brilliantly blocked for a corner by Nagoa's custodian.
At the start of the second half, Vasco colts were once again on the attack, but substitute Mujafarhusain twice failed to beat the onrushing Nagoa custodian.
In the 66th minute, Nagoa were awarded a free kick after Vasco's custodian handled the ball outside the penalty box. Free-kick specialist Nickson Castanha saw his strike sail just over the crossbar.
Another glorious chance was squandered by Nagoa's skipper Joywin Carneiro when he shot skywards from close range. At the other end, substitute Khanngam Horam darted inside the 18-yard box but, with only the rival goalkeeper to beat, shot wide.
In the first minute of added time, Nagoa's U-21 player Sherwin Abranches drove a rasping left-footer from outside the penalty box, which was smartly parried for a corner by Vasco's custodian Ngamsanglena Haokip. From the resultant corner, stopper-back Joseph Clemente nodded the ball home from Sherwin's delivery, sealing the 1-0 victory.