Churchill Brothers regain top spot with hard-fought win over Gokulam Kerala

MARGAO

Churchill Brothers FC continued to impress as they secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Gokulam Kerala in their I-League clash at the Raia Panchayat Ground on Friday.

The win propelled the Red Machines to the top of the I-League standings with 26 points from 13 matches, two points ahead of second-placed Namdhari FC, who will play their 13th match on Saturday against Shillong Lajong FC.

The match started with Churchill Brothers looking to assert dominance, creating several early opportunities. Colombian midfielder Sebastian Guiterez's powerful shot in the 17th minute struck the crossbar, while a pass from Senegalese midfielder Pepe Gassama almost set up a goal. However, the breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Lalremruata Ralte’s free-kick deflected off Gokulam Kerala's defender Sergio Llamas, wrong-footing goalkeeper Shibin Raj Kunniyil and finding the back of the net.

Churchill Brothers continued to press in the second half, and their efforts paid off again in the 62nd minute. Kingslee Fernandes netted the second goal with a snap shot from the left, beating Kunniyil after receiving a perfect pass from Guiterez.

Gokulam Kerala briefly showed signs of life late in the first half, with Rahul Raj setting up Sinisia Stanisvavic, whose fine strike from outside the box missed the target in the 42nd minute. However, for the majority of the match, Gokulam Kerala struggled to find their rhythm and create clear-cut chances. Despite some solid defending, they were unable to contain Churchill's attacking forces, especially Guiterez, who consistently troubled their defense.

Churchill Brothers, known for their attacking prowess, continued their relentless pressure throughout the game, with Wayde Lekay, the league's joint second top scorer, also coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions. However, it was the combination of Guiterez and Fernandes that sealed the game with their second goal.

Gokulam Kerala did manage a late consolation goal in stoppage time through substitute M Soosairaj, whose effort took a deflection off Nischal Chandan before finding the net. However, it came too late to change the outcome, as Churchill Brothers had already secured a deserved victory.

With this win, Churchill Brothers showcased why they are one of the most potent teams this season, pushing their goal tally to 26 in 13 matches. Meanwhile, Gokulam Kerala suffered their second consecutive loss, failing to find their rhythm and ending up with just two shots on target. They remain in sixth place with 19 points from 13 games.