GPL 2019-20: Churchill Brothers, Dempo share spoils after stalemate

The Red Machines scored through Clencio Pinto while Suraj Hadkonkar equalized for Dempo on the hour mark.

Churchill Brothers FC Goa and Dempo Sports Club played out a 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League match played at Village Panchayat Ground, Nagoa, on Friday.

Red Machines scored through Clencio Pinto (39’) while Suraj Hadkonkar equalised for Dempo Sports Club at the hour mark. Red Machines stay in third position with 37 points from 17 matches while the Golden Eagles are in second spot with 41 points from 21 matches.

Both the teams enjoying a fine unbeaten run in the competition were expected to put up a thrilling fight. But it was Churchill Brothers FC who were dominant from the first whistle and didn’t let their opponents get adjusted to the game.

The Varca-based team totally dominated the first 20 minutes of the game and did create chances too. First , on receiving a loose ball in the midfield, Clencio Pinto, dribbled past a Dempo SC player before taking a shot at goal which was cleanly dealt by Dempo SC custodian Luis Barretto.

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Later, Churchill Brothers almost took the lead when Wendell Coelho played in a cross from the left which was headed in the frame by Clencio Pinto, but much to his dismay, his effort was cleared off the line by a Dempo SC defender.

It was a one-way traffic as Churchill created plenty of chances but they just couldn’t score. Meldon Silva missed two clear cut chances to score from the goalmouth. Duata had set up the defender and then he later missed to direct a header from a corner kick.

The Varca-based team finally broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Wendell Coelho played an accurate cross in the box to Clencio Pinto, who headed in past Luis Barreto, to make it 1-0.

Clencio scored his 11th goal of the campaign. Dempo SC didn’t have many chances in the game, but there was a good move created by Rajat Harijan but failed to convert it into a goal.

Dempo SC coach Samir Naik replaced U-20 player Niraj Parek brining on Suraj Nadkonkar just before the breather. Churchill Brothers FC led 1-0 at the break. Trailing by a goal, coach Samir Naik introduced Joaquim Abrances getting off Rajat in the 48th minute to add extra teeth to their attacking game.

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One goal lead was never safe for Churchill Brothers FC considering their opponents second half goal scoring record. The two substitutions changed the whole dynamics of the game for Dempo SC.

The visitors attacked in numbers and missed couple of chances before they finally restored parity in the second half. Churchill Brothers FC’s Fredson Marshal handled the ball outside the box which gave away a freekick to Dempo SC.

Suraj Hadkonkar, curled in his trade-mark freekick which took a slight deflection off Churchill Brothers’ Fredson and entered the goal, 1-1. The first half substitute –Suraj scored his 10th goal of the campaign, thus becoming the highest goal scorer for Dempo SC.

Churchill Brothers had a chance to seal the game in the dying minutes of the game but Vinil’s header was saved by Dempo SC custodian Luis Barretto.

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