Churchill Brothers thrash Guardian Angels in Goa Pro League

This was the first win for the Red Machines after three consecutive draws.

Churchill Brothers Sports Club climbed to the top of the table with a neat 3-0 win over Guardian Angels Sports Club in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Tuesday.

With this win, the Red Machines have 13 points from eight encounters. Angels remained in the bottom half, with just a point from five matches. Clencio Pinto scored a brace (36, 55), while Lalawmpuia (83) scored on his debut in the second half for Churchill.

Angels had only one change to their side which went down to FC Goa in the last match. Yunal Fernandes made a start for the Curchorem side. On the other hand, Preston Bairola, Trijoy Dias, Clencio Pinto, goalkeeper Nora Fernandes and Lalawmpuia Sailo, were the few changes in Churchill’s side which held the same opponents in their last match.

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Churchill Brothers started the match on an attacking note and marched on Guardian Angels at regular intervals. They had the best chance to take the lead in the 14th minute. Clencio made a short pass to Lalawmpuia in the box, but his strike was brilliantly saved by Angels keeper Oswin Rodrigues. A few minutes later, they once again came close to scoring. Lalawmpuia setup Preston with a perfect through pass. He just had to beat the rival keeper, but the Angel custodian came out of the box to clear the danger on time.

Angels keeper Oswin once again came to rescue his side in the 29th minute. Jobern Cardozo sent a through pass to Clencio in the box. His goalbound strike was parried away for a corner by Oswin. Three minutes later, Lalawmpuia found Trijoy in the box with a long pass, but the lad could not keep his header on target.

After wasting so many chances, the Red Machines finally managed to break the deadlock in the 36th minute. Clencio headed home Lalawmpuia's cross to give his side the lead. Down by a goal, Angels coach Riston Rodrigues changed his keeper. He brought in Shivam Pednekar to replace Oswin, while he brought in experienced midfielder Nicholas Rodrigues to sharpen them in attack.

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However, it was Churchill who took just 10 minutes into the second half to double their lead. A low cross from Trijoy was tapped in by Clencio to make it 2-0 in the 55th minute. Clencio had an opportunity to further extend their lead and complete his hat-trick in the 67th minute. Jobern sent a through pass to set him up with just the keeper to beat. However, Angels goalkeeper Shivam blocked the shot.

Angels came close to reducing the margin in the 71st minute. A long free-kick by Gilbert Oliveira found Frenden Pires in the box. He in-turn headed it to well-positioned Joaquim Abranches, but the experienced forward shot wide from point-blank range.

At the other end, the Varca-based club further extended their lead in the 83rd minute as Kamran Farooque made a defence-splitting through pass to Lalawmpuia whose scorching strike from just inside the box gave no chance to Angels’ fully stretched keeper Shiva making it 3-0 for his side.

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