the goan I network
Bambolim
A goal-laden second half saw Sporting Clube de Goa register a convincing 3-1 win over Churchill Brothers FC in the final of the 15th edition of Goa Police Football Cup 2017-18 at Athletic stadium, Bambolim on Friday.
While Quan Gomes (61’), Cajetan Fernandes (73’) and Ganesh Thakur (76’) scored for the Flaming Oranje, James Fernandes (88’) pulled one back for Churchill.
There was early goal-mouth action from both sides. In the first minute itself, Sporting’s Quan Gomes sent a cross to Alesh Sawant into the box and the latter’s attempt on target was checked by Churchill defender Jovel Martins, who stuck out his foot to make a block.
In the third minute from the other end, Churchill’s foreign import, Francis Onyeama sent a curling pass to centre forward Uttam Rai, who spilled the chance. The same Churchill combination had another opportunity to come up with the goods seven minutes later, but lacked the final touch.
As the first half moved forth, with the game fought tooth and nail, each side came up with some good moves going upfront but missed the clinical finish. Sporting custodian Melroy Fernandes, meanwhile, showed good ball reading and quick reflexes on quite a few occasions. The stand-out came in the 37th minute when he brought out a top-drawer save to stop a powerful strike by Churchill’s pro-active striker Uttam Rai.
Meanwhile, Sporting’s crafty player Marcus Mascarenhas and nimble-footed Alesh Sawant tried to manoeuvre their way into the striking zone as a pair but the Varca-based outfit’s defence kept them at bay. Just before the half time whistle, Churchill’s shot-stopper James Kithan proved no less effective than his opposite number, coming up with wonderful saves from two successive strikes.
Post resumption, Sporting Clube had the first look at goal with senior pro Marcus Mascarenhas’ effort thwarted by the Churchill goalkeeper. At just over an hour’s play, the deadlock was finally broken with Sporting’s Quan Gomes providing a classy finish with an angular strike into the far corner of the net from close quarters.
With about fifteen minutes of regulation time left, Sporting capitalised on an edgy Churchill defence. A headed strike by Marcus Mascarenhas on goal was to only rebound back into play for team-mate Cajetan Fernandes to sink it into the nylons with a powerful header to double Sporting’s lead. Barely could Churchill recover from this setback, Sporting substitute Ganesh Thakur (53’) dished out the third goal for his side in the 76th minute, latching on to a miscued clearance from the right end of the rival box. Looking down the barrel, Churchill’s defence began to look more susceptible but Sporting lacked the teeth and cohesion to pile on the misery for the opposition.
Against the run of play, Churchill substitute James Fernandes pulled one back for the eventual runners-up. At the post-match ceremony, Sporting Clube de Goa goalkeeper Melroy Fernandes was declared as the Man of the Match, while Churchill salvaged some pride with their star striker Uttam Rai being adjudged as the Player of the Tournament.
