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Margaon, Nov 24 : Salgaocar Sports Club and Churchill Brothers were
locked 1-1 in a seventh round I-League clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on
Thursday.
ND Opara drew first blood for Churchill in the 49th minute only
for Chidi Edeh to pull it back for Salgaocar in the 71st minute.
Churchill
now move to 3rd spot with 14 points from 7 matches while Salgaocar move to 8
points from 7 matches.
Both the teams started on a fast track mode and seemed
eager to draw first blood. There was plenty of goal-mouth action but the final
touch was missing at either end.
Salgaocar, in particular, had more attempts
on goal in the first session and had it not been for an alert Churchill
goalkeeper Felix D’Souza, the defending champions would have been at least two
goals ahead.
Felix was at his best early in the game when he dived
full-length to block Edeh Chidi’s header. A few minutes later, Chidi again found
himself with some space, but Felix proved to be equal to the task again.
And
much to Salgaocar’s agony, even when Felix was soundly beaten by Chidi’s rasping
drive, Salgaocar had no luck: the goalpost stood in between.
Churchill also
had their fair share of chances. Most of the chances were being created by the
crafty Lalrindika Ralte.
The young left-footed midfielder, at first tested
the rival goalkeeper with a long ranger that sailed inches past the post.
A
couple of shots also went close but the closest Churchill got to the Salgaocar
goal in the first session was when ND Opara mistimed his header with only the
goalkeeper to beat and Henri Antchouet should have done better than an extremely
weak left footer.
Churchill Brothers surged ahead in the 49th minute when ND
Opara collected a ball from midfielder Lenny Rodrigues just outside the danger
zone and unleashed a fierce shot that crashed into the top corner of the
net.
Salgaocar took the setback in their stride and true to form did not have
to wait long for the equaliser. Chidi, easily the most dangerous player on the
field, brought Salgaocar level in the 731st minute when he headed home a cross
from Rocus Lamare.
Churchill had two chances to score the match winner
towards the fag end but substitute Bineesh Balan’s volley was tipped to safety
by goalkeeper Karanjit Singh and then another substitute, Jerry Zirsanga, aimed
at the sky from close range.