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I-League: Churchill Leave It Late To Sneak Win Against Salgaocar
The champions scored late in either half...
01-Feb-2010 6:02:00 PM
By Atishay Agarwal
Salgaocar 1-2 Churchill Brothers
I-League Results/Standings
Churchill Brothers returned to winning ways in the league, as they worked hard to secure a 2-1 win over a battling Salgaocar side in Goa. Tim Hankinson's men took an early lead through Mandjou Keita, but the champions scored late goals in both halves, one from Gouramangi Singh, and the other from Odafa Okolie, to move to 2nd in the league. Churchill keeper Arindam Bhattacharya was named Man of the Match.
Salgaocar were quick off the blocks, as Keita and Beevan combined wonderfully from the off. A neat one two between the two saw Keita squeeze in a shot from the edge of the area, which Arindam didn't expect, and had to palm away at the last moment.
A few minutes later, some more impressive play from Keita on the left flank saw him control a long ball and play it in to Beevan, who took a touch and released Keita into the box, but the striker's powerful shot to the near post was tipped over very well by Arindam.
However, it was only a matter of time before Tim Hankinson's men scored, and again it was the duo of Beevan and Keita who brought about the opening in the 9th minute. The former played a pinpoint lobbed pass over Rowilson, and Keita got ahead of the young center half before chipping the ball over the advancing Arindam to give his side the lead.
Churchill responded well, and were the better team for most of the half after that, keeping possession well. Charan Rai came close to equalizing, but his header at the far post was deflected wide of goal.
In the 35th minute, Odafa went close with a wonderfully taken free kick from over 25 yards out, but his viciously curling shot flew just wide of the far post. However, Churchill didn't have to wait too long for their equalizer, as they were level seven minutes later.
A corner kick to the near post looped up off Felix's head, and an unmarked Gouramangi Singh side footed his volley home superbly at the far post. It was a calm finish from the center back, and brought the champions the goal they deserved, as the teams went into the break with the scores locked at 1-1.
The second half, like the first, started off with a high tempo, as Salgaocar tried to restore their lead. However, two minutes into the second period, Churchill's new PIO, midfielder Imone Mohanta, went on a fantastic solo run from well inside his own half. He went past three players to make his way into the Salgaocar box, but his shot was straight at Kalyan Chaubey, who held on well.
A minute later, Beevan D'Mello, who was having a great game, chested down a lofted pass, tipped it up, and volleyed towards goal from 20 yards, forcing Arindam to tip over.
From the corner, goalscorer Keita was involved in a clash of heads with Arindam, from which he came off worse. He had to be taken off the field for treatment, as his head was bleeding, but he recovered well to make his way back onto the pitch five minutes later, with the wound bandaged.
Meanwhile, Churchill were beginning to dominate, as Charan Rai made a darting run into the box on the right and cut the ball back onto his left foot, but couldn't find the killer ball with Felix and Kalu waiting.
A few minutes later, a dummy from Felix sent Odafa towards goal, where he could have played in Charan Rai, but the Nigerian chose to go it alone, eventually firing wide as the Salgaocar defence regrouped.
The champions continued to look the better side, and had a goal disallowed in the 69th minute, after Kalu thought he'd scored. It was the impressive Charan Rai again, who ran clear on the right before crossing to the far post.
Substitute Lalrinfela sneaked in to get a header towards goal, before Kalu tapped it in. The Nigerian was offside though, as the linesman correctly pointed out.
Two minutes later, Felix ran clear on the left, and showed quick feet to go past Agnelo Colaco and cross to the far post for Odafa, who hit the post with his header from a tight angle.
The champions kept pressing though, and got their reward in the 89th minute, as Dan Ito played in Charan Rai into the box on the right. The winger cut the ball back across goal, Lalrinfela, let it go, and Odafa, who was unmarked in the box, slotted home coolly to end Churchill's frustration, and give them the win.
The result was a cruel blow to Salgaocar, who held on bravely for large parts of the match. The win takes Churchill to second place in the league, behind Dempo on goal difference.
Goalscorers:
Salgaocar - Mandjou Keita (9')
Churchill Brothers - Gouramangi Singh (42'), Odafa Okolie (89')
I-League Results/Standings
Churchill Brothers returned to winning ways in the league, as they worked hard to secure a 2-1 win over a battling Salgaocar side in Goa. Tim Hankinson's men took an early lead through Mandjou Keita, but the champions scored late goals in both halves, one from Gouramangi Singh, and the other from Odafa Okolie, to move to 2nd in the league. Churchill keeper Arindam Bhattacharya was named Man of the Match.
Salgaocar were quick off the blocks, as Keita and Beevan combined wonderfully from the off. A neat one two between the two saw Keita squeeze in a shot from the edge of the area, which Arindam didn't expect, and had to palm away at the last moment.
A few minutes later, some more impressive play from Keita on the left flank saw him control a long ball and play it in to Beevan, who took a touch and released Keita into the box, but the striker's powerful shot to the near post was tipped over very well by Arindam.
However, it was only a matter of time before Tim Hankinson's men scored, and again it was the duo of Beevan and Keita who brought about the opening in the 9th minute. The former played a pinpoint lobbed pass over Rowilson, and Keita got ahead of the young center half before chipping the ball over the advancing Arindam to give his side the lead.
Churchill responded well, and were the better team for most of the half after that, keeping possession well. Charan Rai came close to equalizing, but his header at the far post was deflected wide of goal.
In the 35th minute, Odafa went close with a wonderfully taken free kick from over 25 yards out, but his viciously curling shot flew just wide of the far post. However, Churchill didn't have to wait too long for their equalizer, as they were level seven minutes later.
A corner kick to the near post looped up off Felix's head, and an unmarked Gouramangi Singh side footed his volley home superbly at the far post. It was a calm finish from the center back, and brought the champions the goal they deserved, as the teams went into the break with the scores locked at 1-1.
The second half, like the first, started off with a high tempo, as Salgaocar tried to restore their lead. However, two minutes into the second period, Churchill's new PIO, midfielder Imone Mohanta, went on a fantastic solo run from well inside his own half. He went past three players to make his way into the Salgaocar box, but his shot was straight at Kalyan Chaubey, who held on well.
A minute later, Beevan D'Mello, who was having a great game, chested down a lofted pass, tipped it up, and volleyed towards goal from 20 yards, forcing Arindam to tip over.
From the corner, goalscorer Keita was involved in a clash of heads with Arindam, from which he came off worse. He had to be taken off the field for treatment, as his head was bleeding, but he recovered well to make his way back onto the pitch five minutes later, with the wound bandaged.
Meanwhile, Churchill were beginning to dominate, as Charan Rai made a darting run into the box on the right and cut the ball back onto his left foot, but couldn't find the killer ball with Felix and Kalu waiting.
A few minutes later, a dummy from Felix sent Odafa towards goal, where he could have played in Charan Rai, but the Nigerian chose to go it alone, eventually firing wide as the Salgaocar defence regrouped.
The champions continued to look the better side, and had a goal disallowed in the 69th minute, after Kalu thought he'd scored. It was the impressive Charan Rai again, who ran clear on the right before crossing to the far post.
Substitute Lalrinfela sneaked in to get a header towards goal, before Kalu tapped it in. The Nigerian was offside though, as the linesman correctly pointed out.
Two minutes later, Felix ran clear on the left, and showed quick feet to go past Agnelo Colaco and cross to the far post for Odafa, who hit the post with his header from a tight angle.
The champions kept pressing though, and got their reward in the 89th minute, as Dan Ito played in Charan Rai into the box on the right. The winger cut the ball back across goal, Lalrinfela, let it go, and Odafa, who was unmarked in the box, slotted home coolly to end Churchill's frustration, and give them the win.
The result was a cruel blow to Salgaocar, who held on bravely for large parts of the match. The win takes Churchill to second place in the league, behind Dempo on goal difference.
Goalscorers:
Salgaocar - Mandjou Keita (9')
Churchill Brothers - Gouramangi Singh (42'), Odafa Okolie (89')
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