the goan I network
MARGAO
Churchill Brothers Football Club beat a spirited Calangute Association 2-0 in the GFA Goa Professional League in a match played at 3MTR ground, Navelim.
Captain and attacking midfielder Nicholas Fernandes and midfielder Cyrus Noronha struck for Churchill Brothers in the first half. With this win, Churchill took their tally to 32 points from 14 matches, while Calangute Association occupy the 11th spot with 13 points from 17 matches.
Churchill made their early moves through their foreign imports Anthony Wolfe and Nicholas Fernandes and the former even hit the crossbar. At the other end, the Calangute lads were sloppy in the initial period and failed to keep possession of the ball.
Churchill Brothers’ breakthrough came in the 15th minute when midfielder Gilbert Olveira sent a nice through pass to Nicholas Fernandes, who outpaced his markers and unleashed a snap shot to beat an onrushing Calangute goalkeeper Sanji Bugde. The goal rattled the North Goan side and they started pressing forward for an equaliser. In the 20th minute, Calangute had a chance to level the score when midfielder Domnick Fernandes found Nigerian striker Abdoul Ahat Fall inside the rival penalty box. Fall unleashed a stiff shot but Churchill goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia parried away the ball. Though the rebound fell kindly for Akash Sanadi, but he could not benefit from the chance.
Calangute Association nearly levelled in the 29th minute when lanky Nigerian striker Fall unleashed a blistering right-footer but it was well-blocked by Churchill goalkeeper Bhutia. Churchill Brothers’ insurance goal came in the 32nd minute when Gilbert Olveirta floated a flag kick inside the rival penalty box and Wolfe back-heeled the ball to midfielder Cyrus Noronha, who gleefuly converted past Calangute goalkeeper Sanji Bugde.
Calangute Association came out a completely different unit after the break and could have reduced the deficits but Fall’s rasping shot was fisted away by Churchill goalkeeper Bhutia with some effort. Calangute stretched the rival goalkeeper and
their rear guard.
Though the beachside team put up a spirited display only Fall threatened the Churchill goal while he lacked support from his team-mates in the offence.
In the 68th minute, Fall’s header hit the horizontal bar off a flag kick taken by Domick Fernandes and later, the Nigerian’s snap shot was saved brilliantly by Churchill custodian Bhutia. In the injury time, Churchill Brothers substitute striker Lamgoulen Hangshing blew away the easiest chance of the match, when he could not find the net from five yards after getting an assist from substitute
Clencio Pinto.
