Team Herald
MAPUSA: Churchill Brother Sports Club put up a stellar performance to hold Salgaocar Football Club to a 2-2 draw in the GFA’s Taca Goa U-20 league match, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Saturday.
At halftime, both the sides were locked in a 1-1 draw.
In the first session, Salgaocar defence marshalled by Clyde Fernandes, Saurabh Patil, Daniel Gomes and Stephen Alvares did a splendid job to deny Churchill lads in the bud itself.
After some midfield play, Salgaocar shot into the lead in the 15th minute when Andrus John sent a lovely through pass to Devendra Murgaonkar who unleashed a powerful shot which struck the Churchill keeper before entering the nets, 1-0.
Two minutes later, Chester Paul Lyngdoh curling 20-yard shot was tipped for a corner by the Salgaocar keeper Nora Fernandes.
Churchill pressed hard, showing keen intentions to get back into the match, where –first Mildred Rebello’s shot from the right flank went inches past the keeper and two minutes later Mildred sent a pinpoint pass to Delbert Fernandes who shot straight into the waiting hands of the keeper.
The constant pressure piled on by Churchill paid off in the injury time of the first half when Basant Rai ran down the left flank and flashed the ball to Sandeep Subba who finished off in style, 1-1.
Crossing over both the teams started off aggressively, determined to wrap up the match in their favour, where in the 53rd minute Chester Paul, who was a livewire in the Churchill midfield, ran into the Salgaocar danger zone and fired in a powerful shot which was collected by the keeper on second attempt.
A minute later, Salgaocar once again took the lead when Kaushik Negi on getting hold of the ball drilled in a low shot which sneaked into the Churchill goal past the outstretched hands of the keeper, 2-1.
Churchill unperturbed about the goal deficit continued with their attack and in the 62nd minute of play restored parity when Chester Paul’s 25-yard free-kick banged the side post and entered the Salgaocar nets, 2-2.
Couple of minutes later, Churchill Abhay Shetty saw his shot from just outside the box being fisted away by the Salgaocar custodian Nora.
In the 72nd minute of play Mahesh Kumar set up goal scorer Devendra Kumar inside the 18-yard box who was a wee bit late in getting his feet to the ball.
