Panjim Footballers edge past FC Bardez in five-goal thriller

Mahesh scored the winner in the second half to hand the newcomers the three points.

Panjim Footballers secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over FC Bardez in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium earlier today.

Panjim coach Savio Vaz had made only one change to his side which drew with Corps of Signals in the last match as Prasil Kankonkar was back in the starting XI for the Capital city side. Whereas Bardez who lost to Dempo in the last round match also had few changes as Shubham Rao Desai, Kirtikesh Gadekar and Gaurav Vaigankar made into the cut.    

Panjim almost opened the account in the 7th minutes when Akeraj Martins placed the ball in the empty goal after dribbling past Bardez keeper David Chauhan but Joliston Rebello who scored the own goal in the last match came up with a goalline clearance to keep his side safe.

However, in the 10th minutes, Bardez keeper failed to collect Israeli midfielder Fady Riad’s long ranger, taking advantage of the same, Akeraj sent the ball in the back of the nylons to make it 1-0 for the Capital city side.

Bardez had the best chance to put the terms on the level in the 19th minutes when Shubham made a superb run and found Clinton Niasso with a low cross in the box but the striker saw his powerful shot hit the defender before going out for a corner.

With just two minutes left to the half-time whistle, Panjim doubled their lead through Fady. The midfielder stylish shot past keeper David from close after receiving a pinpoint perfect cross from Mahesh Kumar in the box.

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Like in the first, Panjim were once again unlucky not to score their third goal in the early minutes of the second session as Congo midfielder Alphonse Shako saw his powerful shot hit the crossbar and went out for a goal-kick.

A minute later, Panjim keeper Gurpreet Singh came with double saves as he first block Clinton’s powerful striker from close, while the loose ball was once again shot by Bardez skipper Jessel Carneiro but the custodian brilliantly tipped it for a corner.

However, in the 54th minutes, keeper Gurpreet was completely helpless when Bardez striker Ronil Azavedo’s shot from the top of the box hit the goalpost and entered the goal to make it 1-2 for the Pink Brigade.

Pumped-up by the goal, Bardez took another 10 minutes to level as Lalbabu Matho’s long ball was brilliantly carried on the wing by Jessel and crossed it to onrushing striker Clinton who tapped in from close to make it 2-2 for his side in the 64th minutes.

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A few minutes later, Panjim had a chance to once again restore their lead when Mahesh sent a perfect through pass to Akeraj in the box who danced past two defenders but failed to keep his shot on target from point-blank range.

When it was looking like the match will end in a stalemate, Mahesh scored a spectacular goal for the capital city side as the winger’s shot from close entered the top corner to book all three points from the match.