Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Suraj Hadkonkar’s 81st minute strike enabled Calangute Association Sports Club register a hard-fought 1-0 win over Churchill Brothers FC in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Sunday.
After this win, Calangute Association have nine points from four matches, while Churchill Brothers FC stay on three points from four matches.
Both the teams having won their last GPL matches took the field on a promising note, yet nothing much transcribed till the half an hour break.
Churchill Brothers coach Mohamed Ansif in Sunday’s match further strengthened his starting XI by fielding medio Stendly Fernandes and defender Clive Miranda.
At the other end, Calangute Association in charge Anthony De Souza brought just one change in his starting XI by fielding U-21 Joven Fernandes.
It was only in the 33rd minute, Churchill Brothers Stendly squared the ball to unmarked Moirangthem Berlin but the latter connected the ball over the crossbar.
In the added time of the first session, a pinpoint cross by Calangute Association skipper Mehbub Hublikar was timely headed out for a corner by Churchill Brothers’ Rajendra Bairola.
On crossing ends, both the coaches brought two substitution each to bring teeth in the attacks.
In the 47th minute, a rasping shot by Churchill Brothers’ Stendly was brilliantly paired to safety by Calangute Association’s custodian Aditya Sharma.
At the other end, just three minutes later, substitute Ronaldo Oliveira collecting a pass from Arun Naik drove a weak short into the waiting hands of Churchill Brothers goalkeeper Abhinav Akkot.
In the 75th minute, Calangute Association’s substitute Vishesh Nasnodkar sent a through pass to overlapping Ronaldo, right inside the 18-yard box, to find Churchill Brothers defender hold Ronaldo when he was about to aim at the goal.
However, in the 81st minute, this time Calangute Association’s Ronaldo sent a back pass to substitute Suraj Hadkonkar, who took his time and coolly placed the ball into the goal, to send the large Calangute Association’s supporters into raptures,1-0.
