NAVELIM: Clencio Pinto put up an impressive performance for Churchill Brothers FC in their 3-0 win over Velsao Sports and Cultural Club in the Goa Football Association Goa Professional League, at Rosary ground, here, on Wednesday.
Clencio scored one and assisted the other and was instrumental in the team’s third goal. Gilbert Oliveira and Uttam Rai were the other goal scorers for the Red Machines.
“We played a good football today. We had a quiet first half but our second half performance is what we are looking in the games to come. We had two goals flagged offside and we had couple of chances missed. If we had taken our chances the scoreline would have been different. But overall great team performance,” said Clencio.
There was no much action in the first half as the teams kept more of possession. Churchill Brothers had the first shot at goal in the first quarter when Clencio put the ball back of the net connecting to Nicholas Fernandes’ cross, but only to see it flagged offside.
Striker Clencio was unlucky once again when his brilliant overhead volley which awed the crowd, narrowly missed the mark sailing just over the bar.
Velsao SCC looked poor in build up play in the first half but the goalkeeper P Mascarenhas came with a superb save to deny Clencio once again as the teams went into the breather tied 0-0.
Crossing over, Churchill Brothers finally broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Clencio intercepted the ball played in the box by Nicholas and turned before getting the ball on the left foot and shot past the helpless keeper, 1-0.
The second goal came in the 68th minute when Velsao SCC player handled the ball in the box and referee awarded the spot kick. Gilbert stepped over and coolly converted from the spot.
Churchill Brothers had a goal denied once again when Clencio’s rebound header was pushed into the goal by Nicholas but much to his dismay saw it being ruled out as the later was flagged offside.
Churchill Brothers finally scored their third in the 85th minute as Clencio started the move from the midfield and played to Nickson Castanha and the latter set up Uttam Rai who was lurking in the box, and the former Dempo SC striker tapped in for the team’s third goal.
