Team Herald
FATORDA: A fine hat-trick by Agnelo Colaco helped Churchill Brothers FC score a fluent 3-1 win over Dempo Sports Club in the opening match of Goa Sevens Premier League, played at SAG ground, Fatorda, on Sunday.
With both teams finding the momentum in the second quarter of the match, it was the keeper’s day as both keepers –Tyson Caido and Ricardo Cardozo kept their team in the contest with some breath taking saves.
While it was Ricardo who came with a flying save to deny Dempo’s Hayden in the 12th minute, Tyson Caido parried away Churchill’s Clifford Miranda’s left footer in the 16th minute.
Just as it seemed the teams would walk away goalless at the breather, Churchill Brothers FC took a surprise lead in the first half added time through Agnelo Colaco.
The midfielder slipped while taking the flag kick but scored an Olympic goal, which surprised the entire Dempo SC team. Churchill Brothers led 1-0 at the break.
Crossing ends, Dempo SC showed the urgency to net the equalising goal.
Joaquim, Hayden and Beevan constantly tried long-range shot but just couldn’t get past inform Ricardo Cardozo. The Red’s were pinned in their own defence by the surging Blues.
Dempo SC finally managed to score past Churchill’s Ricardo in the 47th minute through Beevan.
The former Salgaocar striker hit a low grounder in the far left corner of the goal past the diving Churchill Brothers keeper.
Just at Dempo SC went all out in search of the winner, Churchill Brother Joshua Vaz’s shot hit the Dempo post in the 55th minute.
Minutes later, Churchill Brothers’s Agnelo scored the team’s second in the 57th minute when the medio was brilliantly fed by Nivholas from their own half, and the former scored with ease with just the keeper at his mercy.
The Red’s Agnelo completed his hat-trick in the 60th minute.
The medio capitalised on Dempo’ SC defensive lapse that set him straight at goal with just keeper at his sight and the lad coolly lobbed the ball past the onrushing keeper.
