Churchill tame Al Hilal, go on top

Al Hilal…1 Churchill…2

PANJIM, MARCH 24
Musli Power Churchill Brothers gave their chances of qualifying for the next group of 16 stage a great boost beating Al Hilal of Yemen 2-1 (half time 1-1) in their second match of AFC Cup Group B match at Ali Mohsin Al Muraisi stadium, Sana’a, Yemen on Wednesday. The return match will be in Goa on April 6.
With today’s victory, Churchill climbed to the top of the group with a tally of four points from two matches. Kuwait are second with two points from two draws and Al Hilal are third with just one point after two matches.
Both sides had drawn 2-2 with defending champions Kuwait Sports Club and with just three teams in the group, the victory for Churchill will go a long way in putting them on the road to qualifying for the next stage of the tournament.
With an attendance of 2153, it took Churchill Bros just 15 minutes to stun Al Hilal with a superb goal by Odafa. However, Yaser Ahmed Mohammed Basuhai put Al Hilal on level terms in the 37th minute.
Felix Chimaokwu snatched the precious match-winner in the 55th minute for Churchill Bros.
Al Hilal had a chance to take the lead after only five minutes when they were awarded a spot kick but striker Kasim’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja. the penalty was awarded as Churchill’s Naoba Singh had handeled the ball.
That miss became even more costly when Churchill Brothers opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Odafa struck a powerful free-kick past Salem Awadh and into the back of the net.
Churchill continued to maintain the pressure on Al Hilal and could have doubled their advantage in the 25th minute but Felix Chimaokwu saw his effort sail over the crossbar.
However, Al Hilal equalised in the 37th minute when Akram Al Selwi delivered a dangerous cross from the left that was pushed away by Bhattacharja but Basuhai headed the stray ball into the net.
Al Hilal stepped up the intensity of their attacks in the remaining minutes of the first-half and they came close to a second goal after 39 minutes but Al Selwi fired over the crossbar before Bhattacharja saved another effort from the same player.
Bhattacharja continued to frustrate the hosts as one minute later, Munassar Ba Haj saw a dangerous shot being pushed away by the custodian.
Churchill began the second period strongly and scored their second goal 10 minutes after the break when Robert Lalthlamuana swung in a cross that was dropped by Al Hilal goalkeeper Awadh at the feet of Felix, who had the simplest of tasks to put his side in front.
Al Hilal went in search of an equaliser after the unexpected setback and their best chance came in the 73rd minute when Ala Al Sasi delivered a neat pass to Basuhai, whose shot from inside the area was just wide off the right upright.
Al Hilal continued to pressurise their opponents for the remainder of the game but they were denied by a combination of solid Churchill Brothers defence and goalkeeper Bhattacharja, who was alert to majority of the home side’s chances.
Churchill Bros: Arindam Bhattacharja, Rowilson Rodrigues, Felix Chimaokwu, Thokchom Naoba Singh, Ogba Kalu Nnanna, Okolie Inyeka Odafa, Vashum Reisangmi (Charan Rai), Silveira Nascimento (Lenny Rodrigues), Robert Lalthlamuana, Lalrindika Ralte, Gouramangi Singh, Lalrindika Ralte (Ashley Fernandes).