Churchill Brothers lose grip on top spot after draw with SC Bengaluru

Former Red Machine talent Clarence cancels out Lekay's strike to share spoils

CHARLES D'SOUZA | FEBRUARY 04, 2025, 12:52 AM IST
Churchill Brothers lose grip on top spot after draw with SC Bengaluru



MARGAO

An equaliser from defensive midfielder Clarence Savio Fernandes and solid defensive work by SC Bengaluru, saw Churchill Brothers miss out on full points in a 1-1 draw in the I-League match, at Raia Panchayat Ground on Monday.

The result saw Churchill Brothers miss the opportunity to top the table, while SC Bengaluru lifted themselves off the bottom of the standings. After a hard-fought draw, SC Bengaluru moved out of the relegation zone for the first time in two months, with nine points, while Delhi FC dropped to 12th place.

Churchill Brothers, who had the chance to move top, took the lead in the 61st minute thanks to Wayde Lekay's ninth goal of the season. However, Fernandes, making his first start of the season for SC Bengaluru, equalised in the 73rd minute, bringing the game level at 1-1.

The draw meant that Namdhari FC remained at the top with 24 points from 12 games, while Churchill Brothers, now with 23 points, are a point behind. This was SC Bengaluru's first-ever away point in the I-League, ending a streak of six consecutive defeats on the road.

The match began with SC Bengaluru putting pressure on the hosts, creating multiple chances. In the 23rd minute, Clarence Fernandes' header from a corner was followed by Álex Sánchez’s half-volley, which struck the crossbar. Four minutes later, goalkeeper Sayad Kadir was forced into a fingertip save to deny Salam Johnson Singh’s volley. Captain Carlos Lomba’s corner then found Shafeel PP, whose header crashed off the crossbar.

Churchill Brothers did not get a clear chance in the first half, with their best opportunity coming when midfielder Anil Gaonkar dribbled into the box and was about to take a shot when SC Bengaluru's Oinam Sanatomba Singh made a timely tackle to prevent the attempt.

After a quiet first half, Churchill Brothers made changes, introducing new signing Rafiq Aminu and Colombian midfielder Sebastián Gutiérrez. The substitutions paid off in the 61st minute when Gutiérrez set up Aminu, whose quick footwork allowed him to slide the ball across goal, where Wayde Lekay scored with a cheeky backheel into the empty net.

However, SC Bengaluru was determined to leave with something. In the 73rd minute, they equalized from a free-kick near the touchline. Lomba’s delivery into the box was met by Clarence Fernandes, a former Churchill player, who struck it past Kadir to make it 1-1.

Churchill Brothers pushed hard for a late winner but found SC Bengaluru’s goalkeeper Yuya Kuriyama in top form. Kuriyama first tipped over a powerful long-range shot from Pape Gassama before quickly reacting to palm away Gutiérrez’s deflected shot from 25 yards. In the 81st minute, Gutiérrez set up a golden opportunity for Gassama, but the Senegalese forward blazed his shot over from just inside the penalty area.

The game ended in a tense 1-1 draw, with both teams sharing the spoils. SC Bengaluru, despite their narrow escape, praised their team’s determination, especially the defensive efforts that earned them a crucial point. "It was a tough match, but we defended well and secured a point," said the team’s spokesperson.

Churchill Brothers FC head coach Dimitris Dimitriou was critical of referee K Ramdasan’s decisions following the draw. Dimitriou expressed frustration, claiming that crucial decisions were consistently going against his team.

"Any serious foul, and he would show a red card. But for us, all the important decisions always seem to go the other way," Dimitriou said, clearly displeased with the officiating.

He pointed out that many fouls were only punished with yellow cards, while potential penalties and red cards were not awarded when they appeared warranted. "The referee didn’t have a great match," he added, visibly fuming. "I hope the referee does a better job next time."

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