GPL 2019-20: Five star Churchill Brothers defeat Corps of Signals

Vinil Poojary scored a hattrick while Willis Plaza and Lalkhawpuimawia scored one each on Saturday afternoon.

Vinil Poojary scored a hattrick as Churchill Brothers FC ran riot over Corps of Signals in a Goa Professional League match on Saturday. Willis Plaza and Lalkhawpuimawia also got on the score sheet for the winners.

Churchill Brothers had a dream start at Navelim Stadium on Saturday as they were up by two goals within six minutes of the start. Churchill Brothers managed to take the lead when in the third minute when Wendell Coelho played an accurate cross in the box for Willis Plaza, who in turn scored his 10th goal of the season.

[KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

Corps of Signals struggled to cope up with the opposition pressure and gave away a penalty, which Lalkhawpuimawia coolly converted to make it 2-0. There were constant attacks on the Signals, wherein their keeper Vikramjit Singh made a stunning save to deny Willis Plaza, before being subbed off after picking up an injury. Binu replaced the injured keeper.

Corps of Signals had a rare chance when Nim Bhutia intercepted a back pass from Jovel Martins but the former couldn’t do much as the Red Machines keeper narrowed down the gap and made it difficult for Bhutia to direct his effort in the goal.

However they had yet another chance but Nokul Singh’s shot from inside the box was timely blocked by Vanlal D. Churchill Brothers almost scored their third goal when Plaza was set on goal by Quan Gomes, however, failed to score.

In the added time, Churchill Brothers had another chance but Plaza’s effort was pushed for a corner. From the corner kick, Lalkhawpuimawia's header sailed over the bar.

Crossing over, Churchill Brothers continued from where they had left from and scored soon after the restart through their second half substitute Vinil Poojary. Plaza in getting the ball in the midfield played Vinil on through on goal, and the latter’s effort brushed off Signals keeper Binu Purushothaman and hit the post before entering the net, 3-0.

Churchill Brothers were gifted yet another penalty when Lalkhawpuimawia was brought down in the box by Shuklab Bordoloi and the referee awarded a penalty despite the ball rolled in the goal. However, off the resultant penalty, Vinil scored his scorn of the day.

Vinil Poojary would have scored fastest hat-trick when he was set on goal by Plaza and the former did everything right before taking a placement shot, however his attempt narrowly missed the mark.

Vinil finally bagged his hattrick and it was once again the initial work of Plaza who broke the rival defense with a defense splitting pass to him. Vinil graced the assist by scoring past rival custodian Binu, who couldn’t do much in the game.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Vinil was in thick of action and his introduction in the game plan gave more attacking teeth to the Red Machines. He had an opportunity to set up another goal for Churchill Brothers but with Plaza and Lalkhawpuimawia in the box, Vinil tried to try his luck from an acute angle.

Signals were no where in the game on Saturday as they were totally overpowered by Churchill Brothers FC. In another match at Nagoa ground, Salgaocar Football Club registered a 3-2 win over Vasco SC. Saeesh Halarnkar scored a brace while Selwyn Miranda added another.

For Vasco Sports Club, Suraj Mondal and Sanwil D’Costa netted a goal each.