Naga World defeated National Defence 5:4 in the C-League on Saturday, a result that tightens the gap in the upper half of the table. The visitors arrived in second place with seven points from three games, while the hosts sat rooted in eleventh with none. The scoreline tells a story of back-and-forth rather than dominance, and by then it was clear neither side would settle for a draw.
Rafael Klein opened the scoring for National Defence at the tenth minute, but Kibe answered for Naga World shortly after. M. Bakayoko restored the home side's lead before J. Agostinho levelled for the visitors. And here's the thing — the momentum shifted again when Agostinho converted a penalty at the fortieth minute, a moment that changed the complexion of the first half.
Felipe Paim dragged National Defence back into contention at forty-eight minutes, only for M. Hamisi to restore Naga World's advantage six minutes later. The visitors then took control through Agostinho's second goal at sixty-three minutes, a strike that put them ahead for good. Paim pulled one back late on, but the damage was done.
Discipline was patchy throughout, with four yellow cards scattered across the ninety minutes. The first came at the thirty-ninth minute, followed by a booking just before half-time. Two more appeared in the second half, with the final one coming after Naga World had already secured the win.
The result leaves Naga World three points clear of their nearest challengers in second place, while National Defence remain winless after three matches. The hosts have now lost all three games, a run that raises questions about preparation and execution. The visitors, meanwhile, have won two and drawn one, a record that suggests consistency rather than luck.
