the goan I network
DULER
Churchill Brothers Sports Club registered a well deserved 2-0 win over Goan Football Club in their Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, at Duler Stadium, here
on Friday.
In the absence of Red Machines star striker, Trinidadian Willis Palza, responsibility laid on strikers Uttam Rai and Nigerian striker Francis Oneyama and both of them scored a goal in each session of play. After the victory, Churchill Brothers stay on 7th position with 26 points from 21 matches, while Goan FC finished their campaign in the GPL standings at 4th position with 36 points.
Goan FC coach Clifford Miranda, after their win over holders Salgaocar FC in the last match, started with Jason Barbosa, Hayden Fernandes, Sazwin Fernandes and Franzil Issac Negredo in the starting XI. At the other end, Churchill coach Alfred Fernandes included goalkeeper James Kithan, Uttam Rai, Arvind Silva and Nigerian striker Francis Onayema in the playing XI following their stunning win against the champions Sporting Clube de Goa in the previous league match.
In the very first minute, the Young Gaurs should have taken the lead when their defender Negredo found Lalawmpuia in the box with a long ball but the striker’s shot from close was brilliantly tipped for a corner by Churchill keeper Kithan. The Red Machines keeper Kithan came with two good saves as he made an acrobatic effort to push Liston Colaco’s powerful strike for a corner, while two minutes later, he stretched to his limit to deny Yasir Mohammad’s goal bound free-kick from just outside the box.
At the other end, Churchill striker Uttam brilliantly dribbled past three defenders and tried his luck from the top of the box but Goan FC keeper Shubham Dhas made an excellent save to keep his side safe. In the 36th minute, Churchill’s Nigerian striker Francis was brought down by rival defender Serineo Fernandes in the box to give away a penalty, where forward Uttam sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to give Churchill the lead.
The Young Gaurs had to play the rest of the match with 10 men with the sending off Serineo by referee Melroy D’Silva with a direct red card for his offence. Two minutes before the breather, the Young Gaurs had a chance to level the terms when Jason found Lalawmpuia in front of the goal with a neat short cross but the striker’s header was nicely collected by Churchill keeper Kithan.
On crossing over, the Young Gaurs were once again unlucky as their tricky midfielder Lalawmpuia dribbled past a defender and went for the glory from the edge of the box only to see his shot being brilliantly fisted over the crossbar by Churchill keeper Kithan.
At the hour mark, the Red Machines were also reduced to 10 men when their defender Banpynkhrawnam N was given the marching orders after he was shown the second yellow card of the match for a reckless tackle on Goan FC striker Lalawmpuia.
While the Young Gaurs failed to score, in the 72nd minute, the Red Machines extended their lead when Nicholas Fernandes dribbled past a rival defender and set up Nigerian striker Francis who banged the ball into the back of the nylons from
close, 2-0.
