FATORDA: Churchill Brothers Football Club edged past Salgaocar Football Club 2-1 to move into the semi-finals of the Goa Police Cup football tournament, at SAG Artificial Turf ground, Fatorda, on Sunday.
The match started on an even footing both sides locked in an intense battle in midfield .As the match progressed, Churchill Brothers got a foothold through Israil Gurung and Quan Gomes.
Churchill Brothers broke the deadlock in the 28th minute through a counter attack when Quan Gomes laid a well measured cross to Spaniard Joaquim Barbero who beat the Salgaocar goalkeeper Nora Fernandes.
After taking the lead, Churchill Brothers started on the ascendancy but their striker Willis Plaza were guilty of squandering sitterrs. Churchill Brothers nearly doubled the lead but attacking midfielder Israil Gurung sent the ball wide after Vinil Poojary laid it on a platter. Churchill Brothers Football Club got another chance when Israil Gurgung found Jaoquin Barebero who relayed it to Willis Plaza who made a mess of it in the 38th minute.
Salgaocar hit the revival path through Saaesh Halankar, when Godfrey Mascarenhas’s well executed free-kick after rival defender committed a foul on the Salgaocar player and the referee awarded the free-kick and Saaesh Halankar connected in style leaving the Churchill Brothers goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia dazed in the 48th minute.
Boosted by the equaliser, Salgaocar could have regained the lead but Mackroy Peixoto failed to beat the rival goalkeeper off well measured cross from Godfrey Mascarenhas Churchill Brothers’ match-winner came in the 68th minute when substitute Schubert Pereira send a floater inside the rival penalty box and Willis Plaza nodded the ball into the net.
Churchill Brothers nearly increased their tally but Willis Plaza shot wide from hand shaking distance.
In added time, Willis Plaza and Godfrey Mascarenhas received marching from referee Jose Rebello. Plaza was shown the red card for elbowing the rival defender and Godfrey Mascarenhas for received second yellow.
Meanwhile, FC Goa Developmental Team started their Police Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Guardian Angel SC in the quarter-finals at the Bambolim Athletic Stadium. Christy Davis bagged the only goal of the game for the Developmental Team.
Churchill Brothers Football Club will now meet Sporting Club de Goa in the semi-finals on September 17, at Duler Stadium Mapusa.
Dempo Sports Club will face FC Goa on same day at Ella ground.
