Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA/RAIA: Calangute Association SC registered a fluent 3-1 win over Churchill Brothers SC in the Goa Professional Relegation League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Friday.
All the goals came in the second session of play. For Calangute Association SC Chandrakant Shirodkar (54th minute) and Jovito Fernandes (59th, 98th minute) scored, while Alent Colaco (62nd minute) pulled a goal for Churchill Brothers.
With this win, Calangute Association SC have 16 points, while Churchill Brothers stay on 13 points both playing their 17 GPL match.
Early in the match, both the goalkeepers came with smart saves. A 25-yard strike by Aman Govekar was paired for a corner by Churchill Brothers’ custodian Gairik Roy, while at the other end Churchill Brothers Garrison Fernandes’ shot from just outside the six-yard box was blocked for a corner by Calangute Association SC goalkeeper Aditya Sharma.
In the 35th minute, Churchill Brothers SC’s Lunminlen Haokip dribbled past a host of defenders and drilled a hot-blooded shot which was pushed by Calangute Association SC’s custodian Aditya for a corner.
Calangute Association SC came strongly into the second session of play and scored two quick goals through Chandrakant Shirodkar and Jovito Fernandes. A deep cross by Domnic Fernandes inside the goal area was nodded by Chandrakant Shirodkar into the goal, 1-0.
Just five minutes later, this time a brilliant low cross by Samuel D’Souza saw Jovito Fernandes guide the ball home, 2-0.
Calangute Association SC almost netted their third goal but a power-packed right footer by Jovito was blocked by Churchill Brothers’ goalkeeper Gairik Roy.
Down by two goals, the Red Machine knowing they had a mountain to climb exerted tremendous pressure and managed to reduce the margin with Alent Colaco scoring from the penalty spot, after skipper Melvin Lobo had brought down Garrison Fernandes inside the 18-yard box, 2-1.
In the 70th minute, Churchill Brothers defender Atharv Dandekar came with a timely clearance to deny Jovito’s placement land into the goal.
From the eight minutes of stoppage time, the Red Machine had a glorious chance to level terms but Calangute Association SC’s custodian Aditya flung to his left to fist the ball for a corner off a 30-yard rasping shot by Moirangmayum Singh.
While the Red Machine failed to score, Calangute Association SC, a minute before the final hooter, saw Jovito net his brace in connecting substitute Nigel Silveria’s cross into the goal, 3-1.
Down by an early goal, Guardian Angel SC fought brilliantly to defeat Panjim Footballers 3-1 at Nagoa panchayat ground, on Friday. Kavya Katkar gave the lead to Panjim Footballers in the 6th minute of the match.
Suman Lepcha equalised for Guardian Angel SC in the 37th minute of the play.
In the second session, Guardian Angel SC scored two quick goals in the span of four minutes. Sannik Murmu gave lead to Guardian Angel SC scoring the second goal in the 83rd minute, while Airen Fernandes made the issue safer for Guardian Angel SC scoring the third goal in the 87th minute.