FATORDA: Agnelo Colaco’s brace fired Churchill Brothers FC in final of the Goa Sevens Premier League, defeating Sporting Clube de Goa 3-1 in the semi-final match played at SAG ground, Fatorda, on Saturday.
Nicholas scored the other goal for the winners while Mauvin Borges scored for Sporting Clube de Goa. The Varca side rallied to tame the rivals and become the first team to reach the final.
Both the teams started on equal footings with players from either side keeping more of ball possession.
The first real chance came in the 12th minute when Churchill Bros keeper Ricardo Cardozo played a direct ball in the rival box, which was flicked in the Sporting goal by their striker, but the goal was disallowed for obstructing the keeper.
Vivek Gopal came with the first save of the match in the 16th minute when he blocked Churchill Bros Agnelo Colaco’s shot. At the other end, Ricardo denied Glan.
Churchill Bros almost took the lead in the 23rd minute, when Joshua and Semson played one-two before the former setting the latter at goal, who saw his effort hit the post.
In the first half injury time, Sporting Clube’s Blake’s effort was saved by a diving Ricardo while Churchill Bros’ Agnelo was denied by Vivek.
The jam packed stadium witnessed a thrilling second half as Sporting Clube began the session on an attacking note and had the first shot at goal in the 35th minute when Glan dribbled past couple of rival defenders before seeing his shot parried by the rival keeper.
In the very next minute, Mauvin Borges scored the team’s first with an acrobatic kick off Avrhishto’s cross.
Stunned by reverse, Churchill regrouped quickly with Agnelo and Clifford barging forward. The duo combined together to score the leveler in the 47th minute when the former India international pass through to Agnelo and the latter showed his composure bursting the top corner, 1-1.
The Varca side were a different team altogether which showed more attacking intent and managed to take the lead minutes later when Nicholas found Agnelo lurking in the rival box, and the latter’s diving header to score his brace will be surely the goal of the tournament contender.
Down by a goal, Sporting Clube pressed hard to find the leveller but Cajetan and his team missed the shooting boots.
Churchill Bros scored the third in the 57th minute capitalizing on Sporting Clube’s defensive lapse through Nicholas.
Time was running out for the Panjim side, but despite referee flashing three additional minutes, they failed to convert their chances.
Churchill Bros became the first team to book their place in the final. Churchill Bros Agnelo Colaco bagged the Man-of-the-Match award for his brace.
