Churchill Brothers beat Dempo 2-0 in Goan I-League Derby

MARGAO

Churchill Brothers FC, two-time champions, secured a dominant 2-0 victory over five-time winners Dempo Sports Club in the 6th round of the 2024-25 I-League at Raia Sports Complex on Wednesday.

This was Dempo's second loss of the season, while Churchill extended their winning streak to four consecutive matches, propelling them to the top of the table with 13 points from six matches. Dempo remain in second place with 10 points from the same number of outings.

Churchill Brothers started the match with high intensity, testing Dempo's defense repeatedly. They took the lead in the 14th minute when midfielder Lalliansangha Renthlei capitalized on a well-timed through pass, leaving Dempo’s defenders behind before firing a precise shot past goalkeeper Ashish Sibi. The Red Machines continued to dominate, creating several opportunities. Despite strong efforts from Dempo's defense and goalkeeper Sibi, they could not find a breakthrough.

In the 57th minute, Churchill Brothers doubled their lead when South African forward Wayde Lekay latched onto a perfectly measured cross from Anil Gaonkar to slot the ball into the net, making it 2-0. The game continued to see Churchill Brothers attacking relentlessly, with Senegalese midfielder Pape Gassama unleashing a powerful shot in the 85th minute, which was expertly saved by Sibi.

Dempo had their moments, particularly in the dying minutes of the match when Serbian striker Matija Babovic had a chance to reduce the margin, but his effort went wide when he was one-on-one with Churchill's goalkeeper Sayad Kadir. Despite some bright spells, Dempo could not break down the resilient Churchill defense.

Churchill Brothers FC’s head coach, Dimitris Dimitrou, expressed his pride in his players' performance, emphasizing that the team had a clear tactical plan that was executed well in both defense and attack. "We achieved a morale-boosting win that keeps our title hopes alive," he said, acknowledging the hard work and commitment of his squad.

Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers' General Manager Aditya Barros dedicated the victory to the club's owner, Churchill Alemao, and assistant coach Mario Soares, who is currently battling cancer. Alemao, in turn, congratulated the players for their "splendid win," praising their collective commitment and teamwork.

Dempo's head coach, Samir Naik, acknowledged Churchill's well-rounded performance and credited his own team's effort despite the defeat. "Churchill played well, and they have an integrated team," he said. "It will not be easy to predict the results in this period of the league, as it is the most balanced."

With this victory, Churchill Brothers head into the Christmas break atop the I-League table, but Dimitrou urged his players to remain humble and focused on the challenges ahead.