AGENCIES, KOLKATA: So close yet so far! Churchill Brothers FC Goa did whatever they could do against RoundGlass Punjab in their final league encounter but the God’s weren’t in their favour as its the other result which didn’t turn in their favour as Gokulam Kerala FC defeated TRAI 4-1 to clinch the crucial win to clinch the title.
Churchill Brothers FC finished joint top with 29 points but its their inferior head to head record which put the Kerala team in pole position. The Red Machines deserved to win the crown but their two defeats in the final phase put them offtrack. Churchill Brothers FC had lost just twice in the league, the least defeats by a team in the league, but the Goan side had more drawn games.
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The Goan club surged into the lead in the 9th minute when Clayvin Zuniga was brought down inside the box. Off the resultant penalty, Slovenian striker Luka Majcen converted from the spot sending rival custodian Jaspreet Singh the wrong way.
Churchill doubled their lead in the 25th minute. An inconsistent Jaspreet after making a couple of acrobatic saves to deny the Goan outfit faltered in his decision making and allowed a routine cross to bounce off the post — all for Zuniga to put it home.
The third goal came during added time in the first half. Omnipresent Bazie Armand, the Churchill captain intercepted, went past his marker, and set it up for Lamgoulen Gou down the right. Gou, with all the time in the world, essayed an inch-perfect cross for an unmarked Zuniga to head home.
Facing an uphill task, RoundGlass Punjab FC managed to pull one back in the 65th minute when Joseba Beitia finished from just outside the box.
Four minutes later Punjab further reduced the margin. Churchill goalkeeper Shibinraj failed to latch on a Maheson Singh cross, and as the ball rebounded off the defender, Papa Diawara tapped it in.
