THE GOAN | NETWORK
PANAJI
In a pacy, energetic Goa Pro League encounter, Dempo SC outplayed Churchill Brothers 3-1 at Duler on Thursday.
With the three points from the match, Dempo have moved second in the league standings with 38 points from 18 matches. Churchill, on the other hand, remain in the bottom half of the pile, a lowly eighth with only 13 points from 18 matches in the 11-team league.
From the outset, the Dempo outfit looked the better oiled unit against the Red Machines, which eventually reflected on the outcome. Dempo may have clearly looked the more dominant of the sides in the evening, enjoying better possession and looks at goal, but their South Goa rivals did not lack the drive in pushing their men forward but were found shortin clinical finishing.
The victorious Blue Brigade had the first attempt at goal from either sides in the 12th minute when their well-built striker Milagres Gonsalves had a lethal strike from 12 yards out but his effort was pushed away by Churchill goalkeeper Ricardo Cardozo for a corner. Three minutes on, Milagres was not to miss out from another opportunity when Churchill defender Mildred Rebello failed to clear a header from Dempo U-20 midfielder Kapil Hoble to put the Panaji side ahead.
In the 20th minute, Dempo medio Hayden Fernandes doubled their score with a powerful tap into the nylons, arising from a cross received on the right from midfielder Mario Mascernhas. Shortly after the second setback, Churchill had a chance to reduce the two-goal deficit but their hard-working midfielder Nicholas Fernandes shot wide from the edge of the box.
Towards the closing stages of regulation time of the first half, chances came either end but did not bear fruition. At the stroke of the breather, in the added lone minute, Milagres Gonsalves headed the ball into goal received from an Anthony D’Souza assist to make it a comprehensive 3-0 lead.
On resumption, with a 3-0 buffer, Dempo were controlling the game as Churchill swapped two players coming into the half to bring more life into their game. Churchill’s Samson Fernandes (striker) and Doyl D’Silva (striker) replaced Mildred Rebello (defender) and Leander D’Cunha (midfielder) to bring more purpose into the attack. The ploy may not have brought the desired results but their attacks into the final third were more pronounced.
At the turn of the hour, Dempo striker Milagres could have had a hat-trick to his name but he missed out on a header. On the 71st minute, Churchill medio Chesterpaul Lyngdoh went on a free run on a counter from the left flank with advancing partners on the right but was fouled when things were looking bright for the men in red.
In the 76th minute, Felix Odili Chidi -- who was playing a withdrawn striker's role -- sent a cross from just outside the box to Germanpreet Singh, but the latter shot the ball wide. The closing quarter saw a couple of good chances go awry with Churchill’s Nicholas Fernandes, who did all the hard yards playing the assists man, but his skilled passing lacked the coordination to result in goals. In the 86th minute, Churchill striker Pankaj Sona attempted a good header from a ball that came his way from Basant Rai but without luck. A minute later, the Red Machines finally found the back of the nets to reduce the margin when a Nicholas corner was solidly headed in by defender Banpynkhrawnam N.
