the goan I network
DULER
Panjim Footballers went down fighting to Churchill Brothers 0-1 in their Goa Professional League match played at Duler stadium under floodlights, here on Monday.
After the win, Churchill Brothers climb to 11th position with 16 points from 14 matches, while Panjim Footballers stay on 8th position with 18 points from 20 matches.
Churchill Brothers colts, having lost by a 1-0 margin to Goan Football Club in their last league match, saw their coach Alfred Fernandes make three changes -- Israil Gurung, Pankaj Sona and Arvind Silva -- making a return. At the other end, Panjim Footballers -- who had surprised Guardian Angel 4-0 -- saw their coach Savio Vaz bring just one change in his starting line-up by starting Devendra Pednekar.
Though the match started at a very fast pace, in the first quarter not once were the keepers seriously tested by the strikers at either end. Finally, the Red Machines seemed to have taken the lead in the 18th minute through their striker, Trinidadian Willis Plaza, but he was pulled up by referee sheikh Aboo for a foul on defender Clive Miranda, at the instruction of linesman Raja Pir.
A minute later, Panjim Footballers’ Snedden Rodrigues brilliantly connected his header at the goal off a cross from Devendra Pednekar, but Churchill keeper Ricardo Cardozo came up with a superb save by fisting the ball over the crossbar. In the 28th minute, Panjim Footballers’ Congo recruit Alphonse Himoa Shako received a fine cross from Egyptian Fady Riad but the latter drilled his left-footer on the
side netting.
Just two minutes before the breather, once again Churchill Brothers could have forged ahead but this time Panjim keeper Gurpreet Singh flung to his left and pushed a power-packed left-footer from Alber Gonsalves for a corner. From the one minute of added-on time, the Red Machines were unlucky not to score as Pankaj Sona’s header off Israil Gurung corner was timely cleared with a header on the goalline by defender Devendra Pednekar.
On crossing ends, both the teams played cautiously with the next twenty minutes of the play restricted to midfield. In the 65th minute, coach Alfred Fernandes brought in James Fernandes from the bench and the latter connected a cross from his team-mate Alber Gonsalves into the goal, beating keeper Gurpreet Singh hands down, 1-0.
Panjim Footballers lost a golden opportunity in the 83rd minute to equalise when substitute Sachidanand Satelkar hoodwinking the rival defender moved dangerously inside the penalty box and as he was about the pull the trigger but defender Suraj cleared the ball to safety.
PLAYING TODAY
Dempo SC vs SCC Cavelossim, Duler stadium, 4 pm
