the goan I network
DULER
A brace each by Trinidadian striker Anthony Wolfe and substitute Clencio Pinto enabled I-League contenders Churchill Brothers to trounce Panjim Footballers by a thumping 6-1 margin in the Goa Professional League, at Duler Stadium, here
on Sunday.
The highlight of the match was an impressive role played by skipper Nicholas Fernandes in Red Machines’ massive win. Suraj Singh and Umesh Harijan were the other scorers for the Red Machines, while Joyson Gaunkar managed to score the consolation goal for the Capital city side.
Churchill coach Norbert Gonsalves fielded almost the same side which held Vasco SC in the last match, with Umesh Harijan being the only change in the Varca side. At the other end, Panjim coach Savio Vaz introduced newly signed midfielder Kunal Kundaikar in the starting XI following a 1-1 draw against Guardian Angel SC in their previous round match.
The Red Machines unit would have taken the lead early in the match had Nicholas Fernandes kept his strike on target after Wolfe had done the spadework. However in the 6th minute, Gilbert Oliveira sent a short corner to Nicholas, who curled the ball to an unmarked Umesh who made no mistake in tapping the ball into the back of the nylons, 1-0.
Hardly had the opponents come to terms with the goal, Churchill doubled their lead in the very second minute. Gilbert’s well-taken corner saw Nicholas head the ball to Wolfe, whose smart chested touch entered the goal, 2-0. The Capital side did have their chance to reduce the margin but Daryl Costa’s strike from inside the box missed the target narrowly.
While the Panjim colts failed to score, Churchill extended their lead in the 23rd minute when Gilbert’s perfect cross was brilliantly headed in by Suraj Singh past Panjim keeper to make it 3-0. At the other end, another goal-scoring opportunity went in vain for the Panjim colts as this time, Alston Camotio sent a short pass to Joyson Gaunkar in the box but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the goal-line by Churchill defender William Niasso.
In the 35th minute, Nicholas’ shot was brilliantly blocked by Panjim custodian Sherwin Da Cunha and the ball rolled to Cyrus Noronha, who set up Wolfe, who scored past an out of position Panjim keeper to complete his brace and get the fourth goal for
his team.
Hardly had the spectators taken their seats in the stadium on crossing ends and the Red Machines pumped in their fifth goal. Wolfe found striker Clencio Pinto, who snatched the ball from Panjim defender Akram Yadwad and clinically finished from inside the box to make it 5-0 for the Red Machines.
Minutes later, Churchill had a chance to score their sixth goal when Clencio found James Fernandes, who had just Panjim keeper to beat, but the striker’s shot was superbly swayed over the post by custodian Sherwin. However, in the 56th minute, Clencio scored his second and the team’s sixth when James sent a square pass to him in the box and he scored in style, 6-0.
The Red Machines were awarded a penalty when Panjim defender Kunal brought down Clencio in the box, but Abhishek Rawat’s shot from the spot was brilliantly blocked by Panjim keeper Sherwin. In the 60th minute, Panjim colts finally brought some smiles on the faces of their supporters as Joyson Gaunkar made an easy tap-in from the goalmouth to
make it 6-1.
Energised by the goal, Panjim colts did come with a series of attacks but Daryl, Delton Colaco and Snedden Rodrigues failed to find the back of the nets. In the 83rd minute, the Panjim colts were reduced to 10 men when their playmaker Vallmiky was sent off by the referee Chandrashekhar Shirodkar with a direct red card for using abusive language.
