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Former I-League champions Churchill Brothers SC and newcomers FC Bardez played out a goalless draw in a Goa Professional League match at Ambelim football ground earlier today.
The match started late because both the teams were stuck outside the dressing rooms as they were not opened until 2.30pm. Both the teams didn’t want to play the match as the players looked tired after sitting out for more than two hours, but the match was still held.
FC Bardez Coach Armando Colaco made only one change to his side. Rowilson Rodrigues was out with a suspension and U-20 player Anil Chawan replaced him.
Churchill Brothers started the match in high spirits as they dominated possession in the first ten minutes. But FC Bardez’s Alesh Sawant could have had first blood in the 10th minute as he got the ball from a Joel Sunday pass just outside the box, he controlled it and chipped it over a Churchill Brothers defender and tried a thunderous volley, just to see it go wide of the post.
FC Bardez again had a golden opportunity in the 12th minute through Latesh Mandrekar but Churchill Brothers keeper Aliston Fernandes saved it. Koko Sakibo came on for Alesh Sawant in the 29th minute as Alesh looked to have picked up an injury.
Two minutes later Koko was involved in a possible goal scoring opportunity, as he got the ball and shot from close range. The ball hit the keeper and got a deflection. Latesh Mandrekar then got the ball and tried a shot but the keeper saved it again. Two minutes before the breather Girish Naik crossed in a superb overhead pass to Koko from the halfway line. A Churchill Brothers defender was beaten, Koko chipped the keeper only to see it go out.
In the 48th minute Chesterpaul Lyngdoh covered some distance with the ball, but Jessel Carneiro blocked the pass from going in. Just after the break Churchill Brothers got their first proper chance on goal as substitute Samson Fernandes almost scored from the left flank. Mirshad K got to the shot and tipped it onto the post and out.
FC Bardez dominated the second half as they tried attack after attack but the Churchill Brothers defence didn’t give in. Koko Sakibo had many opportunities to finish the game but he failed to score. In the 73rd minute Samson Fernandes tried a powerful shot on goal but it went wide.
With today’s draw FC Bardez currently stand in fifth spot having played 13 games with 24 points. On the other hand, Churchill Brothers remain eighth in the league table having played 14 matches with just 12 points .
FC Bardez Assistant Coach Climax Lawrence spoke to the media saying, “We missed so many chances. Koko could have won us the game. But we have to move on there is still a long way to go.”
