MAPUSA: Sesa Football Academy put up a brave fight to hold Churchill Brothers to a goalless draw in the sixth round match of the GFA Professional League played at Duler Stadium, on Sunday.
Churchill Brothers, who are unbeaten in the league, remained second on the league table with 13 points from five matches, while it was a valuable point for Sesa who are now on 7 points from six matches.
Churchill needing a win to improve their league position started on the front foot and nearly took the lead in the 2nd minute but Mauvin Borges header from a long floater by Jovel Martins struck the side post.
Sesa nearly punished the Red Machine in the 16th minute from a costly error by defender Nongmeikapam Suresh Meitei whose back pass to his keeper was well read by Olvin Cardoz who in turn let go a low shot which was stopped by the keeper.
Churchill almost took the lead in the 34th minute through a clumsy error by Sesa keeper Nongpoknganba Singh who delayed in clearing the ball inside the goal area and was easily disposed by Willis Plaza who laid the ball to U20 Wendell Coelho whose low grounder was stopped on the goal line by Melvin Lobo and the ball came to Glan Martins whose firm strike was once against stopped on the goal line by Melvin.
In the 41st minute, Sesa keeper Nongpoknganba Singh made amends for his earlier mistake by denying U20 Preston Fernandes from firing the ball into the goal from a wonderful pass by Willis Plaza which caught the defence napping.
Crossing end, Sesa defended resolutely under the leadership of their skipper Melvin Lobo and ably supported by Myran, Biken and Caitano which snuffed out the threat posed by Churchill`s Willis Plaza and substitutes Clencio and Schubert who were brought in to add more teeth to the attack.
In the 75th minute Sesa had a sigh of relief when Schubert whipped in a dangerous cross across the goal but Willis and Clencio failed to get any touch to the ball and guide it into the empty goal.
With time running out Churchill pushed more men forward and had another chance to seal all three points, Wills Plaza clever pass found Mauvin Borges inside the penalty box, but the angel of the shot was too difficult to trouble keeper Singh.
