PANAJI: Riding on a fine brace from Franky Oliveiro, Churchill Brothers SC scored a fluent 2-0 win over Calangute Association in Goa Football Association’s Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Monday.
Calangute Association came up with early attempts. First Nickson Castanha’s free-kick took a slight deflection and went out for a corner and then it was Siddhant Shirodkar who was denied by keeper Debnath Mondal.
Then it was Churchill Brothers’ turn to raid and they were close to scoring when Franky set Yagya Kapoor whose shot was blocked by Melvin Lobo at the near post. Later, Afdal was denied by Paramveer.
Churchill Brothers finally broke the deadlock at the half-hour mark. Nickson Castanha, who had a poor start, lost possession at the half-way mark to which Afdal Varikkodan, who upon covering some distance, sent a pass to Jouston Barbosa on the left. The winger on reaching the byline squared the ball in the middle to Franky Oliveiro, who scored with a simple tap in to put his team ahead in the game.
Calanagute had a chance to restore parity just before the breather but none of their players could connect to Rohan Kamble’s corner.
In the second half, Calangute came up with a good buildup. Domnic Fernandes sent in low defence-splitting pass to Kouame Junior, who upon entering the box, squared the ball at the far post to an unmarked Sidharth Kundaikar, whose attempt narrowly missed the target.
Calangute had yet another chance when Sidharth dispossessed Kidron Fernandes on the right flank and passed to Siddhant, who had all the time and space to beat the keeper, but he went on to shoot straight at the keeper, much to frustrate his team and the Calangute fans at the stadium.
Churchill Brothers were awarded a penalty in the 66th minute when Paramveer Singh brought down Jouston Barbosa in the box. Franky kept his composure and coolly converted from the spot.
Churchill Brothers’ Jouston showed a poor form in front of the goal. Having missed two clear-cut chances earlier, the youngster failed to control a cross from Velito D’Cruz from the left. The midfielder’s poor first touch let him down as he only had the keeper at his mercy.
