the goan I network
MARGAO
Churchill Brothers were lucky to earn a point as they scored the equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw against a spirited 10-man Vasco Sports Club in GFA Professional League at Rosary ground, Navelim, on Wednesday. There was no score at half time.
The likes of Nigeran Pen Orji, Schubert Pereira ran at the Churchill Brothers defence and with a little bit of luck in front of the goal, they could have left the pitch with three points. Vasco Sports Club’s build-ups were eye-catching and the pace of Anil Kumar made life miserable for the likes of Aniston Fernandes, Cyrus Noronha and Fredsan Marshall. Churchill Brothers were all the more vulnerabale at the centre of the park .Clearly the Red Machines lacked the flair and quality and were lucky to log one point.
Vasco Sports Club came close to surging ahead in the early moments of the game when Nigerian striker Henry Ezeh was fouled by rival defender and referee Mario Vales awarded the free-kick just outside the rival penalty box. The resultant free-kick by captain Henry Ezeh went wide much to the dismay of Vasco supporters. Defender Jovel Martins, who overlapped and unleashed a stiff shot, missed the target narrowly.
Vasco Sports Club should have taken the lead in the 43rd minute when Nigerian striker Henry Ezeh’s left-footed drive was fisted away by the Churchill goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia and before Suraj could do the damage, rival goalkeeper Bhutia came to his side’s rescue by clearing the ball for safety. Churchill came close but Jovel Martins’s snap-shot missed the target narrowly.
Post resumption, Vasco Sports Club enjoyed better ball-possession and scoring opportunties. Vasco Sports Club finally broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when substitute striker Beneston Baretto tapped the ball in off a well-measured cross from playmaker Pen Orji.
Vasco Sports Club goalkeeper Sanju Thapa who was outstanding, was beaten by Gilbert Olveira who converted the spot-kick in the 54th minute. Substitute Clencio Pinto’s rasping shot was handled by rival defender Sanwil Da’Costa and referee Mario Valles did not have any hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot.
Stung by that equaliser, Vasco Sports Club regrouped quickly and Anil Kumar wasted the easiest chance of the day when he failed to score from one to one situation. The young midfielder took the advantage of rival defence sloppiness and had just rival goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia in front of him but his shot went out of play.
Vasco Sports Club suffered a jolt when striker Henry Ezeh suffered an injury. In the 86th minute, Vasco Sports Club were reduced to 10 men when captain Pen Orji picked up a second yellow card.
