Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Churchill defeats Bagan 1-0 in IFA Shield

By Staff

Kolkata, Feb 27 (UNI) Churchill Brothers defeated Mohun Bagan 1-0 in the opening tie of the IFA Shield here today in a one-sided affair, dominated by the Goan outfit.

Churchill Brothers took the lead in the 31st minute.

The move started deep inside Churchill half with Kalu Ogba overlapping down the left before sharply cutting inside the box.

Bagan goalie Sangram Mukherjee sensing danger came off his line to clear the ball. The clearance landed at Peter Odafe's feet, whose dilly-dallying allowed Mboyo Iyomi to snatch the ball set up Robert Lalthalmuana, whose rasping 25 yard volley found the mark.

Churchill came close to doubling their lead in the 40th minute when Sangram Mukherjee brought down Kalu inside the box. However, Chandam Chitra's volley was acrobatically saved by Sangram to avert danger.

Bagan came perilously close to scoring at least on three occasions in the first half, but Churchill goalie Vinay Singh spoiled the party. First he denied Venkatesh in the sixth minute with a brilliant dive to his left, then in the 31st minute Jose Rameirez Barreto was denied by the goalie.

Vinay again came up with a brilliant save after Baichung Bhutia fed Barreto inside the box.

If Vinay saved the day for Bagan, Churchill was denied because of poor finish. Kalu, Mbyo and D Raju weaved past the Bagan defence with consummate ease only to fumble in the last moment.

In the second half, Churchill maintained their dominance and came near scoring several times. The easiest chance of the match went abegging when Mbyo headed the ball defeating Sangram in flight into the open net only to see N S Manju bring off a goalline save.

Bagan did push hard in the latter part of the match, but a rusty Barreto and heavily bottled Baichung meant no luck for the home side.

UNI BA SJC RA HS1937

Story first published: Thursday, August 24, 2017, 16:14 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 24, 2017