AGENCIES, PUNE: Churchill Brothers FC recorded their first point, in the Hero I-League 2016-17, as they clinched a 1-1 draw away at DSK Shivajians.
The home side took the lead in the first-half, on 21 minutes through Korean forward Kim Song Yong, but celebrations were cut short, with approaching full-time, as a late 86th-minute header from Adil Ahmed Khan levelled the scoreline. The home side, DSK Shivajians made no changes to the squad. Whereas, visiting manager Alfred Fernandes made two changes from a 2-0 loss at home to East Bengal in the last game week.
Churchill Brothers brought two midfield players in. Kyrgyzstan’s Bektur Talgat Uulu and Under-22 player Chesterpoul Lyngdoh as both sides lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.
The two teams enjoyed a hatful of good chances in the opening minutes as the match presented an end-to-end display of open attacking football. But Shivajians and Churchill Brothers failed to make their opportunities count, in front of goal — as a desperate surge for the opener grew.
The goal arrived, much to the delight of DSK Shivajians, who found an opening goal through Kim Song Yong in the 21st minute. The Korean has scored in two games running, as, on this occasion, Churchill’s left-back was caught napping when Kim Song Yong’s sharpness helped him arrive from the blind-side of the defender to put the ball at the back of the net.
DSK Shivajians grew into the match, creating plenty of chances, in the early stages of the second half. The hosts found acres of space to operate between the Churchill Brothers midfield and defence, as the second-half substitute, Sanju Pradhan’s long-range effort nearly brought a second goal.
Manager David Rogers introduced fresh legs post the hour mark, Gouramangi Singh replaced McFauln in defence. Halicharan Narzary was introduced for Lallianzuala Chhangte 10 minutes later, as DSK Shivajians looked for an important second goal.
As the match entered its final 15 minutes, Churchill Brothers were presented with a golden opportunity to equalise from the spot. In the aftermath of the foul committed by Sanju Pradhan inside the box, referee Pranjal Banerjee gave the visitors a chance to make it 1-1. But the experienced Anthony Wolfe was denied from the spot by Shivajians goalkeeper Soram Anganba, who stretched towards the right to deny the Trinidad and Tobago international to score.
Exactly 10 minutes separated Wolfe’s penalty miss on 76 minutes and Adil Ahmed Khan’s goal in the 86th minute. The visitors introduced their last primitive substitute in Surchandra Singh on 85 minutes, whose first vital contribution was to win a corner which brought the equalising goal; Khan managed to win a front-post header to break DSK Shivajians’ hearts.
