Pankaj ‘tricks as Churchill change gears

the goan I network

DULER  

Pankaj Sona netted a hat-trick to enable Churchill Brothers Sports Club to register a 4-1 win over Santa Cruz Sports Club Cavelossim in a Goa Professional League match at Duler stadium, here on Friday.  

Coaches from both the teams started with the same starting XI, where SCC Cavelossim had lost to Dempo 1-0 while Churchill Brothers had got the better of Panjim Footballers by a 1-0 margin. For SCC Cavelossim coach Severino Fernandes, it was an uphill task as only a win in their remaining two matches could save them from relegation.  

They managed to restrict their opponents in the first ten minutes from having a clear look at their goal. As the match progressed, the Red Machines got hold of the proceedings and came twice close to open the account early in the match. 

In the 12th minute, Pankaj Sona found himself right inside the penalty box but his weak strike saw Cavelossim keeper Razak Devsor push the ball for a corner with a full stretched diving save. Just two minutes later, Trinidadian Willis Palza got the better of right back Michael Silva and, after entering the penalty box, sent a low pass to Sevlon Cardozo, who in turn relayed the ball to an unmarked Pankaj who blasted the ball wide.  

After some probing, finally in the 23rd minute, the Red Machines broke the deadlock as Willis Plaza controlled a long ball from his defender and, after getting past the rival defenders, finished with a low grounder, giving no chance for keeper Razak to react, 1-0. Three minutes later, Willis Plaza would have netted his brace as he controlled a long ball from Israil Gurung at the far post and shot at the goal but it was brilliantly blocked by keeper Razak. Cavelossim keeper once again came to his team’s rescue as he once again blocked Pankaj Sona’s strike from close.  

At the other end, Cavelossim’s Mathew Colaco moved dangerously inside the penalty box where he was brought down by Churchill’s skipper Suraj, prompting referee Prasad Surlekar to point to the dreaded spot. Richard Fernandes stepped forward and scored the equaliser, 1-1. However in the 39th minute, Sevlon Cardozo sent a through pass to Pankaj Sona right inside the 18-yard box where the latter beat the onrushing keeper Razak with a neat placement, 2-1.  

On crossing ends, the Red Machines pinned their opponents inside their own territory with regular attacks. However keeper Razak Devsor made two outstanding saves to deny Willis Plaza from scoring, while Pankaj Sona failed to keep his shot inside the goal framework.  

However in the last quarter of the match, Willis Plaza moved inside the penalty box and drilled a power-packed right footer which was blocked by keeper Razak. In the 83rd and 85th minutes, Pankaj Sona twice beat the off-side traps laid by the rival defenders and scored twice to complete his hat-trick, 4-1. 

PLAYING TODAY  

Corps of Signals vs Salgaocar FC, Duler Stadium, 4 pm