TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: Churchill Bros edged past Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 in a fiercely fought encounter in a round four match of Airtel Goa Pro League football at Duler Stadium, here, Tuesday. Churchill led 1-0 at the breather.
Churchill took the lead through Bineesh Balan in the 37th minute and doubled their advantage in the second session through Gabonese Henri Arnaud. Sporting Clube pulled one back in the 83rd minute through Victorino but could not find the equalizer even in the 10 minutes of injury time that they dominated.
Churchill moved to the top of the table with 12 points from four matches while Sporting Clube suffered their first defeat and are on seven points and are in the third spot.
Portuguese centre-back Euripedes Amoreirinha debuted for Churchill while Sporting Clube’s new signing Spaniard Arturo Garcia partnered skipper Mathew Gonsalves in defence.
The teams started cautiously and it was the Red Machines who created the first threat in the very third minute when U-20 Alesh Sawant sent in an intelligent through ball to Henri Arnaud but the Gabonese’s stiff grounder was blocked by Sporting Clube custodian Ravi Kumar.
At the other end, Sporting Clube’s Mauvin Borges played a quick one-two with Boima Karpeh but the Nigerian’s side-footed effort was tipped over to safety by Churchill custodian Arindam Bhattacharya for an abortive flag-kick in the 10th minute.
In the 37th minute, Churchill broke the deadlock through Bineesh Balan. A dangerous flag-kick from Alesh was powerfully headed by Amoreirinha but was blocked by a rival defender and fell to Richard Costa, who set up unmarked Bineesh for an easy tap in. Just before the lemon break, Churchill could have doubled their lead but neither onrushing Jaison Vales nor Bineesh could do justice to Alesh’s well-measured cross.
Changing over, Sporting Clube had two golden opportunities to equalize but Boima’s close ranger was blocked by goalkeeper Arindam in the 51st minute and then Victorino Fernandes’ rasping effort hit the upright in the 62nd minute.
In the 73rd minute, Churchill doubled their advantage after a defensive lapse by Sporting Clube allowed Churchill’s Richard Costa to capitalize and set up Henri, who hammered in from close range.
The Flaming Oranje pulled one back in the 83rd minute when Pratesh Shirodkar cleverly set up Victorino inside the box and the striker finished with a deft placement.
The match became frantic in the final minutes as Sporting Clube went all out and kept the rival defenders on their toes.
Victorino thought he had equalized in the injury time but assistant referee Nilesh Vaigankar had already raised his flag to indicate that he was off-side.
Referee Valenton Fernandes had a busy evening booking as many as eight players — Jaison, Asley Fernandes, Henri, Bineesh and substitute Micky Fernandes for Churchill and Sporting Clube’s Mathew, Pratesh and Boima.
