Team Herald
MAPUSA: FC Goa were held to a goalless draw by Churchill Brothers FC in a Goa Super League Football match at Duler stadium, here, Sunday.
After today’s drawn encounter FC Goa stand with 21 points while Churchill Brothers have a tally of 18.
Churchill Brothers had just one good attempt at the rival goal in the first session but a well-executed free kick by Hayden Fernandes was confidently collected by goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari.
Proceedings were then dominated by FC Goa. Rival goalkeeper Eknath Rathod stood tall in the goal to collect Under-20 Salgeo Dias’ deadly cross from close quarters. Then, in the closing stages of the first session Leewan Castanha’s header was fisted over at the expense of a corner.
Earlier, Churchill Bros were under pressure with Rayan Menezes’ header off Salgeo Dias’ cross sailing over while a scorching 25-yard strike by Under-20 Jordan Borges brushed past a Churchill’s defender for a flag kick.
After the break, Churchill Bros had the better of the exchanges but they failed to score. A reverse kick by Under-20 Bradley Carvalho was collected by goalkeeper Hrithik.
At the other end a pin-pointed floater was timely fisted over by Churchill’s custodian Eknath.
Deggie Cardozo brought in two quick changes with Vasim Inamdar and Under-20 Mevan Dias making their presence. A long ball by FC Goa’s skipper Lesly Rebello was controlled by substitute Shanon Viegas inside the 18-yard box, but the latter shot wide.
Churchill Bros lost their best chance to forge ahead in the last quarter of the match, when skipper Trijoy Dias failed to put the ball inside the unguarded goal after goalkeeper Hrithik had left his charge.
Leewan Castanha received the man-of-the match award from Digvijay.
