PANJIM: Churchill Bros Sports Club did what it matters by winning and snatching three points with a 2-1 victory over Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club, in GFA’s Goa Professional League, round seven match, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, Sunday.
The Red Machines are now in the sixth spot in the standings with 10 points while Tuff Laxmi remain in the top spot with 13 points.
The excitement in the lague has begun to heat up with the tournament entering into the last two rounds that sets the stage for fighting survival amongst the top elite five and those below fighting to save relegation.
Tuff Laxmi dominated the first half with the lads camping in the rival territory but their forwards just could not find the target.
Tuff Laxmi could have found the target on numerous occasions. Their best chance to score came in the 37th minute when Mackroy Peixoto crossed the ball to Manuel Fernandes and just before the damage could be done, The Red Machines goalkeeper Gurpeet Singh managed to tip the ball out of Manuel’s reach. Lurking Marcus also failed to capitalize on the loose ball.
On resumption, Churchill Bros suddenly took the battle into the rival territory and in the very second minute broke the deadlock.
Tuff Laxmi goalkeeper Jaison D’Mello managed to thwart an Odafa Okolie effort but on the rebound, defender Sanjay Balmuchu tapped in from close range, 1-0.
Undeterred with a goal down, Tuff Laxmi equalized through foreign recruit Nigerian Ndubuisi Opara, who capitalized on the rebound of a Marcus Mascarenhas bicycle-kick that hit the crossbar.
A couple of minutes later, Churchill scored their second goal against the run of play through substitute striker Manjit Singh, who neatly tapped the ball into the far corner of the net.
Tuff Laxmi went all out in the final quarter but failed to score and restore parity.
Churchill coach Joseph Afusi decided to lock the match and throw the keys away. He replaced Odafa with a defender Joshua Rebello and Asley Fernandes with Charles Miranda respectively.
