MAPUSA, OCT 6
A brace fom Odafe Okolie drove Churchill Brothers to a convincing 3-1 victory over Sesa Football Academy at Duler stadium here on Wednesday. Churchill led 1-0 at the break.
Churchill dominated the game and Odafe was the star performer. Former Sesa winger Israel Gurung also put in a great performance on the right wing as he moved forward to support the attack and defence.
Sesa were missing Pratesh Shirodkar who was the hero of the last match in midfield. Upfront, Lezly Fernandes was back in the forward line but was not competely fit after being out with an injury.
Churchill’s forward Odafe was wearing a bandage below his left knee. It surfaced as early as the 2nd minute when Sesa captain Nicolau Colaco was booked for a foul on Odafe. Odafe went down in pain but looked like he would get even as the game went on.
In the 37th Odafe was brought down by Sesa’s Ivo Fernandes in the box. Odafe got up to succesfully convert the spot kick.
At half time, as the rain poured down and there were flashes of lightning, the substitute players were reluctant to warm up. Two youngsters from the crowd proceeded onto the field and entertained the crowd with back flips. Once they got back to the stands, Churchill patron, PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao called them over for a few words of encouragement before handing each boy a Rs 500 note for their efforts.
Sesa came out strong in the second half, but it did not last long. In the 58th Odafe passed to Sabino Rodrigues and he played a delightful through ball for Nicholas Fernandes who was free to run in and beat the Sesa goalkeeper at the near post.
Two minutes later Churchill won a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the 18-yard box. Odafe stepped up curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner. Odafe was quickly substituted as the Churchill bench felt that victory was in sight.
Churchill had to withstand a late barrage of attacks from Sesa. Five minutes from the end, Sesa Bento Andrew’s free kick was amazingly turned over by the Churchill custodian.
In injury time, Sesa got a consolation goal as Inacio Colaco did well to volley into the net.
Churchill have now collected 5 points from 4 matches, while Sesa have 3 points from 4 matches.
