Goa Khabar : The opening quarter of an hour saw both teams create half-chances in equal measure, none of them decisive. Garrison Fernandes came closest for Bidesh, forcing a sharp response from Pax keeper Aryan Surwade before firing a second attempt over the crossbar, both opportunities spurned both moments that would prove costly in retrospect. As the half wore on Pax gradually began to assert themselves, shifting the centre of gravity without ever fully taking control. The interval arrived goalless.
The second half continued in much the same spirit, Pax with the greater share of possession, Bidesh compact and difficult to break down. The chances, when they came, arrived in tantalising clusters. Ajay Raj threaded a precise, incisive ball through to Jesloy Moniz, whose close-range effort cannoned agonisingly off the post a moment that had the Pax bench burying their heads in their hands. Shubert Pereira then sent a speculative effort sailing over the bar and the feeling grew that this might be one of those evenings when the ball simply refused to cooperate. Bidesh for their part, held firm and organised frustrating Pax with their disciplined defensive shape and keeping the game in the balance deep into the second half.
A foul inside the Bidesh penalty area handed Pax the opportunity they had been striving for all evening. Stalen Lucas placed the ball on the spot, composed himself, and sent the keeper the wrong way a finish of real authority that settled a match which had, until that moment refused to be settled. Bidesh pressed desperately for an equaliser in the closing stages, and Pax collected a yellow card in the frantic finale as both teams pushed to the very limit. But there would be no dramatic twist. Pax of Nagoa SC held firm, claimed their three points, and left the field having earned every last one of them.
