I-League: ONGC, Churchill Brothers share points

New Delhi: Luck was impartial on Saturday (March 23, 2013) in the 21st round I-League encounter between ONGC and Churchill Brothers at Ambedkar Stadium.
 
Two deflected goals – a Steven Dias effort in the 47th minute and Roberto Mendes Silva (Beto) own goal in the 60th minute – summed up a tie full of missed chances. Courtesy the 1-1 result, Churchill now have 43 points from 20 matches and stay on top of the table while ONGC remain sixth with 28 points.
 
The visitors were creating more chances in the opening exchanges. In the 7th minute, Henri Antchouet side netted after rounding off ONGC goalkeeper Rehenesh. Few minutes later, the Nigerian’s powerful header off former India international Steven Dias’s flag kick went wide.
          
The hosts got their first real chance in the 26th minute when a Yusa Katsumi free kick saw Jatin Bisht head wide. Bisht tried his luck once again in the 35th minute after being set up by Sachin Gawas on top of the box. But his effort failed to get the past Rehenesh.
Post breather, ONGC paid the price for some porous defending from a set piece inside the box. Steven Dias exchanged passes with Denzil Franco after taking a short corner, and it was his shot that deflected into the goal.
 
The Goan outfit though were unlucky to concede the equalizer at the hour mark. Yusa Katsumi’s corner ricocheted off Beto’s thigh to enter his own goal.

Wahid Sali though saved Kashyap’s wards the blushes by being at the right place at the right time. Sunil Chhetri’s sweetly timed half volley from inside the box came off Sali’s face in the 74th minute. The Indian captain was not done yet. His left-footer in the 83rd minute flew inches wide.