PANAJI
Calangute Association edged past Churchill Brothers 1-0 in the Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, with Suraj Hadkonkar’s stunning strike proving decisive late in the second half.
Churchill Brothers started strongly and dictated the tempo through midfield, creating several early openings. Stendly Fernandes constantly tested the Calangute backline with long balls aimed at Aliton Furtado. Moments later, Clive Miranda found Rahul Bora on the right flank, whose cross reached Stendly, but the midfielder could not bring the ball under control before a Calangute defender cleared the danger.
Kinesh Singh then slipped a neat pass to Dinesh Aribam on the right. The winger cut inside from the edge of the box and tried to curl his effort into the far corner, but it missed the target by inches. At the other end, Calangute began to threaten through Shaviz and Arun, who kept the Churchill defence busy.
Churchill regained control soon after, with Stendly cutting a pass back from the left for Berlin, whose first-time strike sailed over the bar. In the first half stoppage time, Calangute pressed for an opener as Sidharth Kundaikar sent in a series of dangerous crosses from the left, but Churchill’s defence held firm to keep the score level at the break.
The second half began with both sides pushing hard in search of a breakthrough. Stendly tried his luck from distance, but his low drive was comfortably collected by the Calangute goalkeeper. Calangute responded with one of their best chances when Vishesh Nasnodkar curled in a teasing cross for Joywin Carneiro, who flicked it towards the far post for Sidharth Kundaikar. However, Sidharth’s first-time half volley flew wide of the target.
Moments later, Jovito Fernandes was brought down just outside the box by Kinesh. Ronaldo Oliveira stepped up for the free kick, but his shot went narrowly wide. Churchill nearly found the opener when Clive Miranda rose highest to meet Jyothish’s curling corner, but his header drifted off target.
In the 81st minute, Calangute finally broke the deadlock. Ronaldo Oliveira laid the ball off for Suraj Hadkonkar on the right, and the midfielder unleashed a thunderous first-time strike from outside the box that flew past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. Churchill pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages, but Calangute’s defence stood tall to protect their narrow lead and secure all three points.
SCOREBOX: CHURCHILL BROS 0 CALANGUTE ASSN 1 (Suraj Hadkonkar 81')
