I-league table toppers Minerva Punjab FC had a crucial slip in their quest for the I-League glory as the Punjab side lost 2-1 to a resolute Churchill Brothers in their away game at Tilak Maidan.
Churchill Brothers went into the match as underdogs against the rampaging Minerva Punjab FC side as Churchill Coach made three changes including Kyrghyztan midfielder Bektur Talgat Uulu in the starting line-up for the Reds.
Churchill had a golden chance as early as 3rd minute into the game as Koffi Mechac found himself with space in the Minerva FC box but the Ivorian striker's heavy touch denied Churchill of an early lead into the game.
Having conceded an early goal Minerva FC looked to breach Churchill defence with pace and deception of Chencho Gyaltsen and William Opoku.
On the 9th minute, Opoku was brought down inside the box by a two-footed challenge by Osagie Monday but the referee had no interest and proceeded with the play in what seemed to be a contentious decision.
Just 6 minutes later Churchill forward Koffi tried to reach for a deflection from a long ranger by Bektur Talgat and went down in the box as he went past Sukhdev Singh without any apparent touch from the defender.
The soft penalty had irked the Minerva FC players but Koffi stepped up from the spot to send Kiran Chemjong the wrong way to give Churchill 1-0 lead into the game.
Looking for an equalizer Minerva FC pressed forward and won a free kick on 22 minutes just outside the box but Chencho failed to capitalize from the promising spot-kick to hit the Churchill wall.
On the stroke of half-time Osagie Monday delivered a long ball from a free kick from the halfway line into the box to Dawda Ceesay who played it on to Wayne Vaz.Wayne Vaz sent a looping cross into the box but an out of position Minerva Goalkeeper Kiran made a mess of it as it landed at the back of the net to give Churchill Brothers a 2-0 lead at the break.
In the second half, both teams had odd chances and Minerva FC managed to pull one back through Kassim Aidara after receiving the pass from a freekick by Chencho delivered perfectly into the 18-yard box and smashed it past the goalkeeper in the second attempt to make it 2-1.
Looking for an equalizer Minerva FC pressed deep into the Minerva half and were eventually rewarded as Wayne Vaz handled the ball inside to box and the referee was on-spot to award a penalty to the away side.
The league leaders looked to be on the script for a dramatic comeback as Bhutanese goal machine stepped up to the take penalty but blasted it wide of the target.
Minerva FC did everything to setal a point but Churchill managed to hold on to the slender lead to deny the visitors any point as Minerva FC still has a slender 2 point lead over second placed NEROCA having played one game less.
No comments:
Post a Comment