Team Herald
MAPUSA: Churchill Brothers Football Club and Corps of signals settled for a 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, here on Sunday.
Rahul Kumar scored for the Red Machines in the 52nd minutes while two minutes later Pawan Thakur scored from the spot to put Signals on the level.
Newly appointed Ukrainian coach Mykola Shevchenko was in command of the Red Machines while, they had few changes in the starting XI as Alber Gonsalves and Joshuah Vaz were back in the starting XI, while new gaffer gave the first start to goalkeeper Jayanth Kumar and midfielder Kartik G.
On the other hand, Signals coach Sub Rateesh R also made few changes to his side which won their last match against SCC Cavelossim as goalkeeper Binu Purushothama, Vishnu Chetri and Romans MS found their names in the playing XI.
Churchill were the dominant side in the major part of the first session as they created numerous opportunities where first U-20 winger Sevlon Cardozo made a fine cross in the box to Alber but the left winger’s volley went wide from inside. A minute later, Joshuah saw his shot just went over the crossbar.
While their best chance of the session came in the 22nd minutes when Joshuah headed on goal from close off Israil Gurung’s corner but Signals keeper Binu made an excellent save, the later rolled to the Churchill defender Banpynkhrawnam N. who shot wide from goalmouth with keeper Binu completely out of position.
At the other end, the Army men also had a chance when Chand Singh made a quick cross from the left to find Joshley Gomes but Churchill custodian Jayanth came off his line to collect the ball before the striker could reach to it. Five minutes later, they had another chance when Pawan Thakur sent a through pass to Vishnu in the box but midfielder saw his shot side netting.
In between these, Churchill’s Israil flung high to connect a loose ball in the box but his bicycle efforts went yard wide.
Crossing over, Churchill’s Karthik tried his luck from the top of the box only to see it nicely fisted over the crossbar by Signals custodian Binu. However, two minutes later, keeper Binu had to pay for his error as he slipped off Israil’s well-taken corner, taking advantage of the same Churchill defender Rahul Kumar made an easy tap into the goal making it 1-0 for the Red Machines.
With just two minutes past, Pawan scored from the spot to put Signals on the level after Kuldeep Kumar’s low cross was handled by Rohan Adnaik. U-20 striker Cyril Dias had the best chance to put his side ahead in the 61st minutes when Kuldeep found him with a perfect cross from the right but the striker headed wide.
The last quarter of the match witnessed an offensive game from the I-League side where Israil came with series of crosses in the box but first Kartik shot wide with every opponent beaten, while substitute Manas Sarkar headed wide from inside the 6-yard box.
In the added time, Signals custodian Binu came with two back-to-back saves to keep his side safe as first Israil once again made an inch-perfect cross from the corner to Manas but his header was brilliantly cleared by Signals keeper. Later, Churchill were awarded a free-kick just outside the 18-yards-box, but the Signals Spiderman made an acrobatic effort to clear Valerio Rodrigues’ goalbound free-kick.
