Team Herald
VASCO: Churchill Brothers secured their safety in the league with a comprehensive 6-1 win against ten-man Chennai City FC in their I-League encounter at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Saturday.
Four goals from Bektur Uulu (22′, 82′, 84′, 90’+3′) set the tone for a big win alongside goals from Ghanefo Kromah (66′) and Brandon Fernandes (90′) as the Red Machines managed to secure safety in the league purely on merit and with some style.
Soosai Raj (54′) pulled one back but the late upsurge of the Red Machines pummelled the debutants.
Man of the match Bektur also earned the distinction of having the highest tally of individual goals in a single match this season.
However, Churchill midfielder Bektur broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute.
The home side won a corner which was taken by Brandon and his teasing ball into the six-yard box was not cleared by the Chennai City defence. The ball eventually found its way to the Kyrgyzstan midfielder who simply passed it into the net.
However, Chennai City FC had a roaring start to the second half as they levelled scores in the 54th minute.
The Churchill Brothers defence switched off collectively as Soosai Raj who was lurking outside the box curled an in-swinging shot with the outside of his boot into the top corner to make it 1-1.
As soon as the momentum seemed to be shifting in favour of Chennai City FC, the visitors suffered a blow after they were reduced to ten men. Defender Anyichie Celestine got his second yellow card for handling the ball in the 60th minute.
The defender had picked up his first yellow in the first half for a foul on Brandon Fernandes.
Churchill capitalised on the numerical advantage and made it 2-1 in the 67th minute.
It was 3-1 in the 81st minute when Brandon picked out Bektur in the middle with a low cross.
The midfielder completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute with a sliding finish as he got on the end of an Anthony De Souza.
There were more goals in store as Brandon got on the scoresheet in the 90th minute with a curling effort before Bektur scored his fourth in injury time.
In another match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium Bengaluru FC annihilated DSK Shivajians 7-0 to go level with East Bengal.
Sunil Chhetri (20’) opened the scoring and assisted three. Alwyn George (22’) doubled the lead with Eugeneson Lyngdoh (25’) joined the party and Semnilen Doungel (31’) compiled humiliation for the Loni-based outfit. Chhetri then bagged his second in the 66th minute, before CK Vineeth added another twelve minutes later.
When it looked like the night would feature a tennis scoreline, Sandesh Jhingan popped up to net the seventh of the night in stoppage time to rub salt on Dave Rogers’ side’s wounds!
