Kolkata: A Lucky Churchill Brothers escaped with a goalless draw against a winless Pailan Arrows in an I-League match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday (April 19). The result took Churchill to 45 points from 25 matches while Pailan move to 10 points from 23 matches.
Pailan played all over the field. Apart from a brief spell in the first half when Churchill playmaker Beto marshaled the midfield in the first half, the Goan giants had to play the chasing game.
Churchill started on a strong note. They even hit the Pailan post in the first quarter of the match but Pailan came back strongly.
Churchill were distinctly lucky in the 30th minute when two successive Tirthankar Sarkar corners went abegging. Off the first, National striker CS Sabeeth failed to beat rival goalkeeper Felix from hand-shaking distance – Felix managing to palm it away. Then off the second corner, Gourmangi Singh cleared from the goalline.
Changing over, it was all Pailan Arrows in the second half. Their consistent raids had the rival defence guessing. While Tirthankar switched it from one side to the other, Alwyn George’s runs created havoc in the Churchill half.
Ajay Singh who came on as a substitute also made an impact but at the end, it didn’t matter – the slate stayed goalless. Pailan were also not able to capitalise on four freekicks from just outside the box.
By Indian Sports News Network
