\MARGAO, January 23: Churchill Brothers provided the ideal boost to their president Joaquim Alemao's resolve to keep the club running, with a 2-1 (half-time 1-0) win over Goan rivals Dempo in a Philips National Football League (NFL) match at the Fatorda Stadium, here today.Shaking off the trauma of the loss of three points to East Bengal on the ball controversy issue, the Goa league champions appeared to have come out to prove a point today.
They did so in fine style against a Dempo side that floundered badly in defence, failed badly in scoring. Three points that accrued now takes Churchill to eighth position in the league -- a spot adrift of their vanquished opponents.
Zimbabwean Samuel Herineki shot Churchill Brothers into the lead mid-way through the first half but Dempo's attacking frenzy led to the equaliser through Mathew Rodrigues in the 52nd minutes.
With Dempo being the more wasteful side as action swayed to and fro, Churchill Brothers wrested the match -- their second win coming at a trot
-- with Man-of-the-Match Kasif Jamal's goal seven minutes from the end. Dempo could have levelled again after evergreen Camilo Gonsalves found Gautam Ghosh with a fine through ball, but the striker's long-ranger bounced off the bar.
Technical director and acting coach, Armando Colaco, cited motivation as the singular factor that scripted Churchill's victory today.
Churchill Brothers' presence on the field today was subject to doubt after rumours of the club being disbanded following the AIFF decision.
But the club president put things in order when he informed before the match that he quelled such an idea for the good of Goan soccer and the future of his players.
Both sides came down heavily on the officiating today, Dempo manager Custodio Almeida decried referee Bosco Pereira's handling of the match and disputed the match-winner, claiming off-side.
Churchill's Colaco, in return, objected to the awarding of Dempo's equaliser with as similar claim.
Dempo missed Brazilian medio serving suspension --Joao Soares and Maroole Antonia -- but still managed to create opportunities.
Dempo suffered another reverse during the match when their star striker Francis Silveira sustained a groin injury in a tackle on Marcus Carvalho that also brooked his second yellow. Either way, Silveira will miss the next match against JCT.
Churchill's endeavours to take the game to the rivals paid off when Harinki struck from Marcus Carvalho's cross from the left.
Rebeiro, striving manfully upfront, drew veteran Churchill 'keeper Chandrakant Naik to a fine save with a shot that had goal written all over it as half-time appointed.
After Rajesh Meetei, stepping into the mid-field in the absence of the Brazilians, missed a sitter from Dempo, Rodrigues levelled scores from a corner. Gautam took the flag-kick and Rodgrigues scored amid a mad scramble in front of goal.
It always looked likely Churchill would squeak in the match-winner as Dempo's defence looked vulnerable to the counter-offensive and surely enough, Churchill
were given another chance.
Jamal, eager to make amends for a glaring miss a little earlier, slotted home at the second time of asking after Dempo goalkeeper Salim Ansari did well to ward off Chibuzor's attempt.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
