the goan I network
DULER
Churchill Brothers trounced Vasco Sports Club 3-0 in the Goa Professional League organised by Goa Football Association, at Duler stadium here on Tuesday. Both teams started earnestly in their respective third league match with Churchill Bros having six points in their kitty while Vasco had four points.
The Red Machines, who are unbeaten in the competition, scored two goals in the first half, through Clencio Pinto (30th minute) and Umesh Harijan (34th minute),while Uttam Rai netted the third goal in the 75th minute.
Churchill Bros were good value for three points as they put out a compact team, with a strong defence comprising Shallum Pires and Leny Pereira as the stopper-backs, while skipper Jovel Martins and Cavin Soares played as the wing-backs. The Red Machines gave very little room for the lone Vasco striker (U-20) Aman Govekar to breach the fortress.
At the other end, Vasco stopper-backs skipper Lenstan Afonso and Myron Pereira were kept on their toes by the swift Uttam Rai. After much probing in the 14th minute, Uttam Rai did manage to squeeze past the defenders and tried to flick the ball over Vasco goalkeeper Sanju Thapa. However, he saw the custodian collect the ball.
At the stroke of half-an-hour, the Red Machines’ Clencio Pinto came off the bench, replacing Arvind Silva and getting hold of a mis-clearance by Lenstan Afonso inside the penalty box, drilled a power-packed right-footer, which crashed into the back of the nets (1-0).
Hardly had the cheers died down, Churchill Bros doubled their lead in the 34th minute when a free-kick by Anniston Fernandes was nodded home by Umesh Harijan but not before the ball brushed goalkeeper Sanju’s hand (2-0).
In the very 3rd minute on crossing over, the Port-Towners had a glorious chance to get back into the match when substitute Anil Gaonkar collected a pass on the right flank from Inacio Colaco, darted inside the penalty box, but to his team’s dismay, his shot went skywards.
Another golden opportunity was squandered in the 65th minute by Vasco after Churchill goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia fumbled in his collection off Anil Gaonkar’s cross, but Aman Govekar was late to tap the ball home.
While the Port-Towners did the attacking, Uttam Rai scored the third goal for their rivals. A corner delivery by Nicholas Fernandes in the 75th minute, was splendidly connected by Uttam on to the side post and inside the rival goal (3-0).
