Team Herald
MAPUSA: Clencio Pinto’s goal in the second session enabled Churchill Brothers Football Club to get the better of Vasco Sports Club, 1-0 in the Round three match of the GFA’s Professional League, at Duler Stadium, here on Thursday.
With Thursday`s win Churchill Brothers moved to the top of the league table with nine points while Vasco remain on one points.
Red Machine kept creating openings in the first session through medio Ghanian Kalif Alhassan, Quan Gomes and Israil Gurang but their attack lacked the end product as their foreign signing Willis Deon Plaza was closely monitored by Vasco’s stopper back Mainoo Dadanuvoor and Sanwil D`Costa.
It was only in the 45th minute Churchill had a real good chance of scoring when Jovel Martins whipped in a dangerous cross from the left flank but before Willis could get to the end of it Vasco’s skipper Anil Gaonkar cleared it out for a corner.
Churchill Bros Coach Edward Ansah introduced Clencio Pinto in the second session which turned out to be a master stoke as he was able to break the shackles of the well organised Vasco defence.
In the first minute of the second half, Clencio’s well struck shot from a pass relayed by Wendel just missed the target by inches.
Keeper MD Jafar Mondal who had nothing much to do under the bar fumbled in his first attempt but collected at the second to stop Vasco’s Suraj Mondal fierce right footed shot in finding the back of the net just outside the penalty box.
In the 67th minute substitute keeper Amit Biswas showed great reflexes to somehow keep out Clencio Pinto’s rasping shot which was struck with venom from entering the net and deny Churchill the opening goal.
The all-important goal came from the boots of Clencio Pinto in the 71st minute with a neat placement after a neat build up play between substitute Shubert Pereira and Willis Plaza, 1-0.
With time running out Vasco pushed more men forward and almost got the equalising goal in the added time when Lago Bei intelligent pass found Suraj Mondal who could not keep his shot goal wards from a handshaking distance.
