06 Mar 2021  |   05:28am IST

Churchill Bros consolidate lead

Remain unbeaten in 13 matches

AGENCIES, KOLKATA: Fredsan Marshall’s strike in injury time at the end of the second half led Churchill Brothers to a 2-1 win over Real Kashmir FC at the VYBK in Kolkata, West Bengal on Friday as they extended their lead at the top of the Hero I-League standings. 

After Lukman Adefemi’s second-half strike had cancelled out Luka Majcen’s first-half goal, Marshall’s long-range screamer proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Not wanting to concede an inch in the title race, Churchill Brothers played the first half explosively where the Red Machines restricted Real Kashmir FC mostly in their own half and could have led by at least three goals to nil. Real Kashmir failed to make even a single goal-scoring opportunity in the half, such was the dominance of the Red Machines.

All the attacking momentum reaped dividends for Churchill Brothers right at the stroke of half-time. A long ball by Vinil Poojary that took a heavy deflection led Haroon Amiri to make an error as he failed to clear the ball that fell pleasingly to Luka Majcen. Clear on goal, Majcen slotted past a hapless opposition goalkeeper to take Churchill Brothers into half-time leading 1-0.

In the 67th minute, Lukman Adefemi produced an absolute stunner to grab the leveller for Real Kashmir. Adefemi, who has been in red-hot form recently — scoring multiple goals over the last couple of matches, edged past Joseph Clemente and with his outside of the boot connected to a cross from the right flank. The volley went crashing into Shilton Paul’s net as the scoreline read 1-1.

Churchill Brothers substitute Fredsan Marshall had other plans. In second-half stoppage time, the midfielder ran on towards goal and with the opposition defence backing out from tackling, his shot from distance crashed into the bottom right corner, proving to be the winner as the full-time scoreline read 2-1 in Churchill’s favour.


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar