I-League 2023-24: Churchill Brothers edge past Shillong Lajong

Churchill Brothers now have 20 points from 17 I-League matches.

Churchill Brothers’ season may finally have the late lift-off they were hoping for with a 2-1 win over Shillong Lajong FC in the I-League 2023-24 at the Tilak Maidan on Monday, March 4, 2024.

After this win, the Goa side now have 20 points from 17 matches, while Shillong Lajong remain at 26 points from 17 outings.

Five places below Shillong Lajong on the table and with nine points fewer at the start of the match, it would have been reasonable to expect that Churchill felt like the underdogs going into the encounter, even if they were the hosts for the game. And yet, their game bucked any assumptions made prior.

They stamped their authority in the early stages of the game, Rahul Raju forcing a smart save from Neithovilie Chalieu in the Lajong goal from distance. In making the save, the keeper had palmed the ball into the path of Emmanuel Essien, and yet, pulled off a brilliant block from close range to deny the Ghanian a goal.

Despite those early misses, Churchill eventually broke the deadlock in the 15th minute via Stendly Fernandes. From a free kick on the right, Lalremruata launched a curler into the six-yard box, which was punched clear by Chalieu, albeit into the path of Fernandes, who took a touch and blasted the ball into the net from the top of the box.

A period of calm ensued, with Churchill comfortable enough to hold Lajong off, and yet not comfortable enough to deny them the possession or space to keep the game interesting. When they eventually scored in the 42nd minute, it wasn’t a surprise. A brilliant ball by Renan Paulino put Douglas Tardin through inside the box on the left. The Brazilian fizzed a brilliant low cross to the far post, for Phrangki Buam to tap in from inside the six-yard box. It was just a reward for both teams at the break.

In sharp contrast to the first half, the second was physical, attritional, and after the first 10 minutes, very ill-tempered. A foul at the top of the Churchill box, by Damaithphang Lyngdoh resulted in problems between the players of both teams that forced the referee to send off one player from each side with straight reds. The final 20 minutes would be played with 10 each on the pitch.

The spectacle of the game was saved by Martin Chaves’ brilliant winner in the 80th minute. Nischal Chandan’s long throw into the box caused enough confusion for Aubin Kouakou to bounce a header off the crossbar. Chaves was the first to react to the rebound. His scissor kick wasn’t perfectly executed, or even connected and yet it bounced perfectly into the top right corner, to spark celebrations in the home ranks.

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