MAPUSA: Churchill Brothers Sports Club scored a 2-0 win over Goan Football Club in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Friday.
Uttam Rai opened the tally for the Red Machines in the first half, while Nigerian striker Francis Oneyama cemented their victory in the closing stage of the match with a superb goal.
However, this defeat made no difference to Goan FC’s standing as they finished the season on 4th place with 36 points, while Churchill has 26 points from 21 matches.
Goan FC had the best chance to take the lead in the very first minute of the match when their defender Negredo found Lalawmpuia in the box with a long ball but the striker’s shot from close was brilliantly tipped for a corner by the Churchill keeper Kithan.
The Red Machines’ keeper Kithan came with a brilliant save in the 20th minute as he made an acrobatic effort to push Liston Colaco’s powerful strike for a corner, while two minutes later, he stretched to his limit to deny Yasir Mohammad’s goal-bound free-kick from outside the box.
At the other end, Churchill striker Uttam brilliantly dribbled past three defenders and tried his luck from the top of the box but Goan FC keeper Shubham Dhas made an excellent save to keep his side safe.
Two minutes later, Churchill’s Nigerian striker Francis made a darting run from his own half, dribbling past almost every opponent in his way but Goan defender Serineo Fernandes pulled him down in the box to give away the penalty, where forward Uttam sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to give Churchill the lead. Referee Melroy D’Silva also sent off the Goan FC defender with the direct red card for his offence.
A few minutes later, the young Gaurs had a chance to level the terms when Jason found Lalawmpuia in front of the goal with a neat short cross but the striker’s header was nicely collected by the Churchill keeper Kithan.
Crossing over, Goan FC took 10 minutes to come close to find the equaliser as their tricky midfielder dribbled past a defender and went for the glory from the edge of the box only to see it brilliantly fisted over the crossbar by the Churchill keeper Kithan.
At the hour mark, the Red Machines were also reduced to 10 men when their defender Banpynkhrawnam N. was given marching orders after he was shown the second yellow card of the match for a reckless tackle on Goan FC striker Lalawmpuia.
Nigerian striker Francis scored the second goal for the Red Machines in the 72nd minute when his teammate Nicholas Fernandes brilliantly cut past a defender and found the Nigerian forward with a cut-back pass who banged it in the goal from inside to confirm all three points from the match.
