the goan I network
MARGAO
Defending champions Sporting Clube de Goa held Churchill Brothers to a 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League at Rosary ground, Navelim here on Tuesday. Sporting Clube were trailing at half time.
Norbert Gonsalves’s side started the match in an attacking fashion and looked hungry for goals especially in the first half. Churchill Brothers broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when left-back Jovel Martins floated the ball from the left flank, and attacking midfielder Cyrus Noronha’s diagonal header grazed the ground and eluded the Sporting Clube de Goa goalkeeper Melroy Fernandes. Spurred by the lead, Churchill Brothers upped the ante and put tremendous pressure on the rival citadel. Striker Uttam Rai squandered arguably the easiest chance of the game when he failed to find the net from a hand-shaking distance in the 43rd minute.
Earlier, the Flaming Oranje, who had struggled in the first half, came up with a noteworthy move when midfielder Cajetan Fernandes’ free-kick saw Marcus Mascarenhas’ feeeble push going straight into the safe hands of rival goalkeeper.
Post resumption with the introduction of striker Victorino Fernandes and attacking midfielder Egyptian Fady Riad, Sporting added more teeth upfront to their forwardline. Cajetan Fernandes, who was the key man for the Flaming Oranje in the midfield, controlled the ball well and created chances. Substitute Victorino Fernandes had a chance to level the score but he failed to beat the rival goalkeeper in one to one situation off Marcus Mascarenhas’ well-measured pass.
Churchill Brothers were effective in the first half, but in the second half, their midfield failed to function as an unit and the free flow of passes, went missing. Unfazed Churchill Brothers went into an attacking mode and midway in the second half, Umesh Harijan’s header missed the target narrowly.
In the 62nd minute, Sporting Clube de Goa neutralised the lead. Following the well-measured cross from right, striker Marcus Mascarenhas connected in style keeping the Churchill Brothers goalkeeper James Kittan dazed. Couple of minutes later, Marcus Mascarenhas failed to net the ball as his attempt found rival goalkeeper’s safe hands. Churchill Brothers nearly found the match-winner when winger Nicholas Fernandes from the left, floated the ball inside the rival penalty box and Umesh Harijan failed to beat the rival goalkeeper with time running out. At the other end, Sporting Clube de Goa got an easy chance but striker Victorino Fernandes failed to complete the job.
Share of spoils
Churchill Brothers broke the deadlock in the 30th minute
Striker Uttam Rai squandered arguably the easiest chance of the game when he failed to find the net from a hand-shaking distance
Churchill Brothers were effective in the first half, but in the second half, their midfield failed to function as an unit
In the 62nd minute, Sporting Clube de Goa neutralised the lead
Churchill Brothers nearly found the match-winner in the closing stages
