the goan I network
DULER
Churchill Brothers Sports Club came from a goal down to register a fluent 3-1 win over Corps of Signals in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, here on Saturday.
It was Vishnu Chetri who came from the bench to give the lead for the Army Men. Britto PM leveled terms for the Red Machine, while Willis Plaza and Pankaj Sona added two more in the closing stage to give full points to their team.
After this win, Churchill Brothers still languish at the bottom of the league table with just 10 points from 10 matches, while Signals continues to be in the eighth position with 18 points from 18 matches.
Churchill coach Alfred Fernandes fielded new signings Trinidadian international Willis Plaza and Kyrgyzstani midfielder Bektur Uulu in the starting XI, and also given a start to Nicholas Fernandes and Yendrenbam Metei.
At the other end, Signals who had lost to Guardian Angel SC in the last match, also made few changes in the playing XI as their manager Major VS Kamble gave striker Rudresh Mandrekar his first start while Paul Victor made a comeback for the Army men.
Outstanding goal keeping by Signals keeper Binu Purushotham managed to keep the slate clean for the Army men against a very dominating Churchill Brothers in the
first session.
Star-studded Churchill should have taken the lead in the very 3rd minute when Sevlon Cardozo’s strike from a distance was confidently collected by Signals custodian Binu Purushothama.
A few minutes later, Churchill’s Metei tried to find Plaza in the box but Kuldeep Singh cleared it on time for
a corner.
In the very next minute, Metei found Plaza in the box who chested it down and unleashed a powerful strike from 6 yards only to see it blocked by Signals keeper Binu.
Another chance went begging for Churchill in the 32nd minute when Nicholas made a fine cross in the box but Plaza failed to connect his header from close.
Churchill coach Alfred made two changes on crossing ends with Pankaj Sona and Britto PM coming in to strengthen the attack.
However, it was Signals who took the lead in the 58th minute when Churchill custodian Ricardo denied U-20 striker Cyril Dias in a one-on-one situation and the ball travelled to overlapping unmarked Vishnu who coolly placed the ball in the empty goal to make it 1-0.
Trailing by a goal, the Red Machines got their acts together and not only leveled terms but went ahead to pump in two more goals.
In the 63rd minute, Willis Plaza’s powerful shot from close was brilliantly blocked by keeper Binu and the ball landed at Britto’s feet whose blistering shot from just inside the box crashed into the back of the nylons to make it 1-1.
Pepped up by the goal, Churchill’s units were just unstoppable as they took the lead in the 73rd minutes when Plaza’s superb footwork in the box helped him cut past two defenders and calmly place the ball into the goal to make it 2-1.
As the match progressed, the Red Machines would have further inflated their lead but Nicholas Fernandes and Yendrenbam Metei strikes hit the post.
However, in the 89th minute Pankaj Sona cemented Churchill’s victory with a goal from the top of the box to earn his side all three points from the match.
