TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Churchill Brothers Sports Club kept their title hunt on track with a 2-1 victory over Sesa Football Academy in an Airtel Goa Super League match at Duler Stadium, here, Sunday.
Churchill were straight down to business and took an early lead through Bineesh Balan while Alesh Sawant doubled the advantage in the final quarter. Thangjam Singh played an instrumental role, assisting in both the goals. Glen Martins scored a consolation goal for Sesa in the injury time.
The Red Machines move up to the second place with 26 points, one behind league leaders Sporting Clube de Goa. The title will be decided in the last round when Churchill lock horns with Sporting Clube.
After suffering two consecutive defeats in their previous matches, Churchill Bros got the start they needed, surging ahead in the very third minute. Thangjam provided a beautiful ball to his striking partner Bineesh and the skipper cleverly chipped over Sesa custodian Jerson Pereira for the opener.
Sesa almost came with an answer in the next minute when Agnelo Colaco thundered a right-footer with rival keeper Bilal Khan beaten but the former’s promising effort kissed the crossbar and went back in play.
Then onwards, the academy boys controlled the proceedings with Agnelo and Paresh Korgaonkar pulling the strings in the midfield. They enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession but found it hard to create any openings where Under-20 centre-back Placidinho Fernandes debuted for Churchill and stood rock solid before he was substituted by Sanjay Balmuchu.
Churchill protected their slender lead but Thangjam could have inflated it in the 34th minute after playing a quick one-two with Bineesh but the 26-year-old shot wide from an ideal position.
Sesa substitute Olvin Cardozo was a threat when he came on before the break. He even had two good chances to score but shot wide after muscling past Naveen Sudhakaran and then, was denied by Sanjay’s timely clearance.
Post resumption, the match settled into a familiar pattern. Both the coaches made some substitutions but it hardly made any impact.
However, with 10 minutes to go for the final whistle, Churchill doubled their lead. Thangjam made a promising run forward and set up Alesh Sawant inside the box and the Under-20 finished with a delightful chip over the rival custodian to make it 2-0.
Sesa’s Glen pulled a goal back for his team in what was the last kick of the match. Overall, this was The Red Machines first victory after 10 matches including the I-League. On the other hand, last year’s runners-up, Sesa failed to even register a point in this stage.
Alesh and Thangjam were adjudged goal of the day and man-of-the-match respectively.
