Duler: Churchill Brothers came from a goal down to hold Salgaocar Football Club 21 to a 1-1 draw in the Group A match of the Bandodkar Gold Trophy Football Tournament, organized by GFA, played at Duler stadium, here on Tuesday.
Both the goals came in the first session of play. Salgaocar scored through Liston Colaco (3rd min),
while Mathew Colaco leveled terms in the (8th min).
The Green Brigade after having an easy outing against Goa Velha started earnestly and surprised their opponents by an early 3rd minute goal through Liston Colaco who controlled a through pass from Jason Barbosa beat the onrushing Churchill keeper Aliston Fernandes and slammed it into the goal, 1-0.
Down by a goal Churchill players regrouped themselves and should have equalized four minutes later but Salgaocar keeper Rohan Sheikh came with a smart save to block Manjunath Rathod strike from close.
However in the 8th minute a long floater from Churchill’s Cyrus Noronha was collected by Mathew Colaco inside the penalty box who then drilled the ball to the far corner of Salgaocar’s goal for the
equalizer, 1-1.
Salgaocar should have once again taken the lead in the 12th minute, but Churchill defender Jasper
Pereira came with a goal line clearance off a deadly cross from Jason Barbosa.
At the other end a long ball by Cyrus Noronha was misjudged by the Salgoacar defense, however keeper Rohan left his charge and punched the ball over the post, before Jaison Dias could head it home.
On resumption of play both the coaches used their substitutions but play was mostly restricted to
midfield.
However Churchill had a couple of attempts at the rival goal.In the 59th minute Salgaocar keeper Rohan managed to thwart Mathew Colaco just inside the penalty box off a cross by Jaison Dias.
Another chance went a begging for Churchill as substitute Flester Gomes strike from the edge of the box was collected by keeper Rohan.
“ The team played well, they have given their best but the finishing was lacking. Overall the team played and performed well. There was no luck for us today ,”said Anthony Pereira, coach of Salgaocar Football Club.
Liston Colaco of Salgaocar received the Man of the Match and cash prize of Rs. 5,000 at the hands of Lavino Rebello GFA’s Vice President.
Salgaocar now has 4 points while Churchill Brothers 2 points.
