MAPUSA: Churchill Brothers FC registered a 4-1 win over Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in the Goa Professional League organised by GFA, played at Duler stadium, here on Friday.
Both the teams coaches started with the same squad where SCC Cavelossim had lost to Dempo by a 1-0 deficit while Churchill Brothers had got the better of Panjim Footballers by 1-0 win in their last league match.
SCC Cavelossim colts are now in a tight position where a win in their last two matches could save them from the jaws of relegation.
The first ten minutes of the match was fought almost on equal footing where only in the 12th minute Churchill Brothers came close twice to breaking the deadlock.
Red Machine’s Pankaj Sona found himself right inside the penalty box but his weak strike was pushed for a corner by Cavelossim keeper Razak Devsor with a full stretched dive.
Just two minutes later, Trinidadian Willis Palza hoodwinked Michael Silva on the right flank and on entering the penalty box sent a low cross to Sevlon Cardozo who in turn relayed the ball to unmarked Pankaj who surprisingly shot skywards.
In the 23rd minute, the Red Machines drew first blood as Willis Plaza collected a long ball from his defender and after getting past a host of rival defenders latched a grounder past keeper Razak to take the lead
Three minutes later, Willis Plaza could have netted his brace as he controlled a long ball from Israil Gurung at the far post but his strike was brilliantly blocked by keeper Razak. The Cavelossim keeper once again came to his teams rescue as he once again blocked Pankaj Sona’s strike from close.
Trailing by a goal, it was Cavelossim’s Mathew Colaco who darted inside the penalty box where he was brought down by Churchill’s skipper Suraj, referee Prasad Surlekar without any hesitation pointed to the dreaded spot. Richard Fernandes made no mistake to equalise.
While Cavelossim carried on their attack from a counter attack in the 39th minute, Sevlon Cardozo sent a through pass to Pankaj Sona who moved some steps ahead where he beat the onrushing keeper Razak with a neat placement to make it 2-1.
On resumption of play, the Red Machine side were all over the rival territory in the first quarter of the match but they failed to increase their lead.
Two strikes from close by Willis Plaza were blocked by the keeper Razak while Pankaj Sona failed to keep his shot inside the goal framework.
However in the last quarter of the match, Willis Plaza moved inside the penalty box and hit a power-packed right footer was blocked by keeper Razak.
However two long balls which caught the defence napping saw Pankaj Sona score twice in the 83rd and 84th minute to complete his hat-trick to make it 4-1 at full time.
