MAPUSA: Marcus Mascarenhas’ 87th minute equaliser enabled Sporting Clube de Goa to hold Churchill Brothers FC to a 1-1 draw in the GFA’s Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, here, on Monday.
Bradley Carvalho put Churchill Brothers ahead in the first session while Marcus Mascarenhas equalised for Sporting Clube. After the third round match, Churchill Brothers have five points while Sporting Clube de Goa have four points.
Sporting Clube de Goa after their loss to FC Goa and Churchill Brothers having drawn to Geno SC in their second league match came into the match all set to return home with a win. Both the coaches fielded almost the same starting XI.
Teams played at a high voltage in the first session with the ball travelling from one end to another. Two fierce free-kicks by Sporting Clube’s Rohan Rodrigues were confidently collected by Churchill Bros’ goalkeeper Subhajit Bhattacharjee.
The 13th minute saw Hayden Fernandes free-kick flash across the goal area to the far end of the post to find Bradley Carvalho tap the ball into the goal, 1-0. Churchill Brothers almost doubled their lead in the 19th minute but Sporting Clube’s custodian Manjunath Hirekurbar thwarted Pushkar Prabhu in a one to one situation.
On crossing over, the Flaming Oranje came with numerous attacks on the rival citadel but Churchill Bros’ defence failed to buckle under pressure. Sporting Clube’s medio Rohan Rodrigues two strikes were saved by Churchill Bros goalkeeper while another glorious chance went a begging for Sporting Clube when Liston Cardozo failed to beat advancing keeper in a one to one situation.
Sporting Clube’s bad luck continued with Llyod Cardozo faltering in front of the goal and minutes later saw his acute angle shot come off the goal post. Finally, former Sporting Clube’s star striker Marcus who had come from the substitution bench rose high above the Churchill Bros defenders to nod the ball into the far corner of the goal off Biswa Darjee cross to level terms,1-1. Churchill’s Bradley Carvalho received the man-of-the-match award from the hands of Nathan Vaz, director of Sporting Clube de Goa.
