Afdal scores winner as Churchill Brothers sink Panjim Footballers

This was the Keralite's maiden goal of the season.

Churchill Brothers bounced back with a narrow 1-0 win over Panjim Footballers in the Goa Pro League at Duler Stadium on Wednesday. Afdal VK scored the only goal of the match in the 27th minute.

Panjim were the better team between the two sides in the early minutes of the clash. They nearly scored in the 13th minute as well, when Pandurang struct a brilliant left-foot volley and forced Churchill keeper Nora Fernandes push the ball out for a corner. In the 22nd minute, Churchill's Afdal VK tried his luck from distance but his shot went wide. Five minutes later, they finally broke the deadlock with Afdal netting his first goal in the league.

Sourav played Pushkar from the right wing and the latter crossed the ball into the box. Afdal made no mistake in finding the back of the net with a perfect header to give Churchill the lead in the 27th minute. In the remainder of the first half, Panjim Footballers' Joe Bence, who made his first start of the season, made some fine saves to prevent Churchill Brothers from scoring more.

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In the second half, Joe made another spectacular save to deny a goal-bound shot from Churchill's Shubert. In the 58th minute, Afdal made a run into the Panjim's box and with the defenders cornering him, he selflessly played it square to Shubert, who in turn set up Pushkar. However, the latter's shot was brilliantly saved by Joe, who was was tested once again late in the game when Vikas tried a power-packed shot from the half-way line.

In the last quarter, Churchill Brothers missed a chance to double their lead. This time, Kimron's shot narrowly missed the goal.

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