Churchill Bros… 3
Pune FC…….…….. 2
TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
DABOLIM: Churchill Brothers scored two goals in the last five minutes of added time as the bottom-placed side put it across Pune FC 3-2 at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Sunday.
In a match that saw both teams being reduced to ten men after a player each was sent off in the first session, Balwant Singh and Bineesh Balan scored in the first and fourth minute of added time to stun Pune FC and move above the relegation zone.
Anthony Wolfe had provided Churchill with the lead only for Australian striker Mirjan Pavlovic to restore parity just a few seconds before the breather. In the second session, Mustapga Riga made it 2-1 for Churchill and then the hosts struck back in the dying minutes of the match.
Churchill Brothers, knowing that a win will take them above the relegation zone, started with solid intent and could have been ahead in the fifth minute itself when D Ravanan found Satish Singh on the right, who saw Balwant Singh in the box, but the India striker was not able to connect well, providing an easy save for Pune goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.
Churchill Brothers were jolted when Satish Singh was issued the marching orders for a tackle on Izumi Arata in the 14th minute. The setback pulled Churchill back and threw a lifeline for Pune FC who started to take control.
Pune FC had their first chance in the 21st minute when Australian striker Mirjan Pavlovic discovered Mustapha Riga clear but the last named was way off the mark.
Against the run of play, Churchill surged ahead in the 24th minute when Jaison Vales made a fine run on the left and set up Anthony Wolfe who finished with considerable ease.
Pune FC were dangerous but there was no thrust upfront. The visitors, however, were also reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Amrinder Singh left his line to thwart danger but only ended up injuring Wolfe. The referee flashed the red card at the Pune goalkeeper in the 44th minute.
The match turned just a few seconds before the change of ends when Riga found the mark after being picked up by Pavlovic.
In the second session, Pune FC enjoyed a good run midway into the second session during which time Douhou Pierre rattled the post and Pavlovic put Pune FC ahead for the first time in the 69th minute after Anthony D’Souza and Gabriel Fernandes had done the spadework.
The match appeared to be slipping out of Churchill’s grasp until Balwant Singh and Bineesh Balan scored late goals to snatch a win from the jaws of certain defeat.
Subash Bhowmick said “Proud to be a coach of this team we came back twice against all odds, I am proud of this bunch of boys, there is still a long way to go before we save the team from relegation but I am sure this boys won’t be relegated”
Churchill Brothers are on 18 points from 18 matches and face Dempo SC on the 28th of March at the Fatorda stadium.
