Shillong/Pune/Goa: Riding high on Roberto Silva’s brace, Churchill Brothers got the better of Shillong Lajong 2-0 in the 15th round I-League football encounter at the JN Sports Complex in Shillong, on Wednesday.
Playing before the packed stadium Lajong fans returned disappointed as their favorite team did not give them reason to cheers.
Churchill who played exceptional game throughout netted their first goal in the 34th minute off a spot kick, when Lajong skipper Zenith Mashangva, handled the ball inside the box, to which visitors captain Roberto Silva made no mistake to place the ball inside the net.
In the 44th minute Goan custodian Felix d’ Souza had real test in the entire first half, when he beautifully flicked off the Eugenson Lyngdoh’s shot from the corner.
Changing the side, though Lajong did created few chances to level the score but strikers weren’t upto the mark upfront.
In the 78th minute Roberto completed his brace to give Churchill 2-0 win over local favourites. He was adjudged man of the match for his outstanding performance.
The scoreline remained the same till the final whistle.
With this win Churchill now have 29 points from 14 matches while Lajong stays at 17 points from 15 outings.
The 10th round encounter between the two was won by Churchill by 6-0.
Dempo thrash Air India 3-1
Dempo SC regained its top position of the league table after comfortably beating 10-man Air India 3-1 in the 15th round I-League encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on Wednesday.
Ranti Martins was in the thick of action and scored two goals in 56th & 88th minutes after having missed a penalty early in the match, while fellow striker Koko Sakibo scored a piece in 77th minute as Dempo showed that the loss at home in December was just an aberration.
For Air India Sandeep Sangha reduced the deficit in injury time bringing in some consolation.
Initially missing a penalty by Dempo, Air India took advantage and attacked them with full force. Henry Ezeh and Sandeep Sangha created two chances upfront but Ezeh wasted the efforts.
After the break, Dempo decided to go for the kill. Goans took the lead through Ranti Martins when he forced the ball in on Cressan Antao’s pass.
Dempo then began to control the pace of the match, passing well between the exchanges with Koko and Ranti wreaking havoc upfront.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Denzil Theobald then set up Koko Sakibo who slotted the ball in to the left of overworked Pawan in the 77th minute.
Ranti was again in a thick of a action when he took advantage of a mix-up in the rival defence as Koko and Ranti toyed with the ball before founding the back of the net in 88th minute.
Air India now have 20 points from 15 matches.
Man-of-the-match was awarded to Koko Sakibo (Dempo)
Salgaocar blank HAL 4-0
Salgaocar Sports Club coasted to an expectedly comfortable 4-0 victory over bottom-placed HAL in a 15th round I-League clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.
Salgaocar have now accumulated 16 points from their last six matches to take their points tally to 25 while HAL, with just three points in their kitty, will find it increasingly difficult to save themselves from relegation.
Francis Fernandes, Ryuji Sueoka, Gilbert Oliveira and Randeep Singh got the goals for the defending champions, who led 1-0 at the breather.
Salgaocar seemed eager to open their account with a flurry of attacks at the start. The defending champions surged ahead in the 12th minute when HAL goalkeeper P Pramod allowed Francis Fernandes all the time in the world to head home Tomba Singh’s measured cross.
Salgaocar’s second goal was another defensive lapse, this time Nicolau Colaco’s cross was headed into the nets by Ryuji Sueoka.
The third goal from the hosts was a gem in the 71st minute. An overhead ball from Rocus Lamare was controlled by Gilbert Oliveira. The midfielder then drew out the goalkeeper and finished off with a nice placement.
Randeep Singh then scored with his first touch as the midfielders powerful shot from just inside the box – after being fed on the platter by Gilbert – rocked the crossbar and sailed into the nets.
HAL failed to make their presence felt and it was made worse when defender Liliyan Ketteth was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 78th minute.
The Bangalore side did not have even a single attempt on goal.
Man of the match was awarded to Francis Fernandes.
