SCOREBOX
GOA POLICE 1 (Gauresh Desai 68') beat CHURCHILL BROTHERS 0
PANAJI
Goa Police Sports Club earned a hard-fought 1“0 win over Churchill Brothers FC in the Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium on Monday, with a second-half strike from Gauresh Desai sealing the result in a cagey contest.
Both teams began cautiously, struggling to create clear chances in a tightly packed midfield. Churchill Brothers looked more dangerous after the restart, registering the first notable effort of the second half in the 52nd minute, but their long-range strike was comfortably collected by the Goa Police goalkeeper.
Goa Police gradually grew into the game and found momentum just after the hour mark. Churchill defender Clive Miranda conceded a free-kick by pushing Mayuresh Mahableshwar Naik at the edge of the area, but the set-piece sailed over.
The breakthrough came moments later when Kunal Salgaonkar released a precise through ball to Gauresh Desai, who controlled inside the box and placed a low shot past the keeper to give Goa Police a 1-0 advantage in the 64th minute.
Churchill Brothers pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Goa Police held firm with disciplined defending, closing down space and preventing clear attempts on goal. Stoppage time saw tempers rise, with Stendly Teotonio Fernandes receiving a booking for a late tackle on Vaibhav Naik, signalling the visitors’ frustration.
At full-time, the lawmen’s organised backline ensured the slender lead remained intact, earning them three valuable points and further boosting their climb in the league standings.
