Margao: Holders Musli Power Churchill Bros
kept it very late to skittle the challenge of a fighting
Salgoacar Sports Club 2-1 in the 13th round tie of the
I-League being played at Nehru Stadium Fatorda.
Salgaocar surge ahead in the 9th minute itself through
striker Madjou Keita brilliant goal but Churchill got
themselves on level terms before the lemon break after a rare
strike by defender Gourmangi Singh and when it appear that
both the Goan giants had settled for the share of honours
Churchill skipper Odafe Okolie popped up at the right place to
poke in the winner two minutes before the end.
Salgaocar were dominating in the initial stages and the
defending champions were saved from going down twice inside
five minutes by keeper Arindam Bahtacharya who brought two
splendid saves to deny rival striker Madjou Keita.
Churchill subdued start never got back on track and the
champions fall into errors in the 9th minute when Salgoacar
winger Francis Fernandes swinging cross from the right flank
was controlled superbly by Keita and with a sublime touch
lifted the ball into the net over the slightly advanced
Arindam who was peeved at his defenders lethargic marking.
Churchill real movement for an equaliser came in the 18th
minute when an Ogba Kalu header which was on target following
a flag kick by winger Charan Rai was cleared off the line by
Rochus lamare Salgaocar defense although appear brittle
whenever Churchill are in possession survive another close
shave when captain Odafe Okolie's freekick whizzed past Kalyan
Chaubey's left post in the 37th minute but the defending
champions finally got back on level terms close to the lemon
break when Charan Rai's corner kick create a panic in the
Salgoacar rearguard and striker Felix Chimawaku flicked the
ball a the back post where an unmarked Gourmangi Singh took
his own sweet time to volley inside the nylons.
After the breather Churchill new Canada PIO recruit Imone
Mohanta went on an amazing run but lack the killer finish
shooting straight into Kalyan Chaubey's arms.
Churchill were
pounding forward to get goals and it put lot of pressure
on Salgoacar defense where skipper Luciano Sabrosa and Agnelo
Colaco managed to hang on until two minutes before the final
whistle that substitute Iranian Rohatula Semania lost
possession rather poorly and allowed Churchill to break away
through substitute Dan ITO who put Charan Rai inside the box
and with the rival defense all over place the winger pulled
the ball back from the touch line and Odafe waiting for the
opportunity shot into the net despite a last ditch effort by
Salgaocar defender Milagres Gonsalves and keeper Kalyan
Chaubey to give Churchill three valuable points and break the
hearts of Salgoacar's supporters.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 02, 2010, 00:04