PANJIM: Churchill Brothers SC bounced back with a narrow 1-0 win over Panjim Footballers in the Goa Football Association Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Wednesday.
Afdal scored the lone goal in the 27th minute of the game.
Joyson Gauncar sent in a great delivery in the box, which was cleared for a corner, by Asif before Panjim player could get to the end of it.
Panjim were the better between the two in the early minutes and nearly scorer in the 13th minute when Pandurang struct a brilliant left foot volley meeting a long diagonal ball from the right, forcing the Churchill keeper Nora Fernandes push the ball for a corner.
In the 22nd minute, Afdal tried his luck from a distance but his effort went off target.
Churchill finally broke the deadlock with Afdal netting his first goal in the league from a perfect header. Sourav played Pushkar from the right wing and the latter sent in a delivery in the box, where Afdal nodded home to give Churchill the lead.
Panjim Joe Bence starting his first game of the season in the goal came with fine saves to deny Churchill from scoring further. From crosses to long ball in the area, the young keeper was fastest to react.
In the second half, Joe came with another fine save to deny Churchill’s Shubert’s goal bound shot. The young keeper pushed the ball back into the play.
In the 58th minute Afdal made a fine run in the rival box and with the Panjim defenders cornering him, he selflessly played it square to Shubert, who set up Pushkar and his shot was brilliantly saved by Panjim keeper Joe.
Joe Bence was tested once again late in the game, when Vikas tried a power-packed shot from the half way mark but the young keeper, who had been outstanding, would need something extra ordinary to beat him again in the game.
In the last quarter, Churchill Brothers missed a chance to inflate the tally, however, Kimron’s snap shot narrowly went past the left post.
