PANAJI: Churchill Brothers and Youth Club of Manora shared four goals in a 2-2 thriller in Goa Football Association’s Selvel Goa Professional League at Rosary ground, Navelim, on Tuesday.
Churchill Bros were the first to score, through Anford Fernandes in the 37th minute. Manora came back strongly in the second half and scored two goals through Aniston Fernandes (69’) and Sweden Barbosa (71’). Myron Mendes got the equaliser for Churchill Bros in the 90th minute.
Youth Club of Manora started brightly and had couple of chances early in the game. Nicholas Fernandes created trouble for Churchill Brothers as the Red Devils had to absorb early pressure. Nicholas sent in a delivery to Melisho, who missed a simple tap-in after his earlier shot was easily saved by the keeper.
Manora had themselves to blame as they created chances, but it was their poor striking quality upfront which deprived them from from the breakthrough.
At the other end, Churchill Brothers also missed a couple of chances before they finally got a goal in the 37th minute through Anford Fernandes, who brilliantly connected with a half-volley on to Asif’s pass.
Nicholas kept trying to get the equaliser but the Red Machines’ keeper was equal to the task.
In the second half, the match was restricted to a midfield battle as the teams took time to settle in. With Churchill Brothers playing more of a direct game, Manora were good enough to stop their attack.
Finding it difficult to penetrate, Churchill Bros opted for long ball and during one such raid, they nearly got the goal when Asif was set through on goal but Manora goalkeeper Luis Barreto came out rushing to collect the ball before the Red Machines striker could get to the ball.
Finally in the 69th minute, Manora got the equaliser and it came from a setpiece. Aniston Fernandes sent in a curling free-kick which the Churchill keeper managed to get a touch on, but the ball ended in the goal.
Manora scored their second goal in the 71st minute which came from a quick attack. Once again it was Aniston who was instrumental in the buildup as he whipped in a delivery from the right, which was headed in by Joywin Carneiro. However the latter’s header came off the crossbar back into the play but the rebound fell to Sweden Barbosa, who was in the right place at right time to push the ball past the helpless Churchill Bros keeper.
In the closing stages of the game, Churchill Brothers came up with a counter-attack from the left. Yagya Kapoor ran down the left flank and sent in a cross into the box, which was met by Shubert whose first-time shot was brilliantly saved by Manora custodian Luis.
However, Churchill Brothers finally managed to score the equaliser in the 90th minute and it was a gem of a goal scored by Myron Mendes, who curled the ball at the far post from inside the box giving no chance to the rival keeper. At the other end, Nicholas saw another of his effort being denied, but this time by the post.
