New Delhi: The I-League champions defeated Air India 4-2 on penalties and qualified for the final of the IFA Shield at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Churchill Brothers started off the match in a clumsy manner but reorganised themselves in the 2nd half. On the other hand, Arnab Das Sharma, the goal keeper of Air India gave his 100 per cent but failed to save his team from going down eventually.
The match was also the first ever game to be played on artificial turf, which saw to it that the match was watchable, despite the heavy rains.
First Half
Carlos Pareira named his line up with players from the Indian squad like Gourmangi Singh, foreigners like Kalu Okba and young talents like Vashum. However, the absence of their goal machine, Odafa Okolie was felt in the first half when Churchill Brothers failed to send the ball into Air India’s net and instead scored an own goal.
In the 5th minute of the match Churchill Brothers got a chance to open the scoring as they got a free kick. The free kick taken by Naoba Singh was beautifully saved by the former East Bengal goalkeeper Arnab Das Sharma.
In the 13th minute the deadlock was broken by an own goal, as Rowilson Rodrigues delfected Soccor Velho’s cross into the back of his own net.
Churchill did create many positions from which they could equalize, but failed to make the most of the chances.
Every time, they lacked that cutting edge in the final third which prevented them from scoring. Again, in the 21st minute they got a free kick. The free kick taken by Paite was a wonderful one, creating a chance for Vashum to score, but the young man failed to get a boot on it.
Air India were dangerous on the counter, and Dada Nabeel created a chance to increase the lead, in the 23rd minute, when he dribbled past two defenders and was one on one with Arindam. However, his toe poke failed to hit the target.
It was a pretty poor game in the first half as the ball remained mainly in the midfield area and the ball was held primarily by the Goan side as they got nine corners in the half, but failed to make use of it.
Second Half
In the second half the spectators got a chance to see a changed Churchill from the first half.
They reorganized themselves, pressed harder, and were quicker and more precise in attack. The first chance in the second half came for Churchill as Kalu’s fantastic volley sailed just over the cross bar. But this was answered by another counter attack by Air India.
In the 53rd minute Opara took a shot but was it easily saved by Arindam. In the 59th minute Tapan Maity, the former Mohan Bagan player, took a long ranged shot but was well wide from the goal.
Just after the hour mark, Bimal Ghosh’s lads again got a chance to increase their lead, as Soccor‘s pass found Dada Nabeel, but the striker’s shot was straight to Arindam.
Air India’s wastefulness in counter attacks was punished by Vashum in the 76th minute as he equalized for the Goans. He dribbled well outside the penalty box and chipped the ball beautifully over Arnab who off his line.
The match was played at a much better level in the second half, as both teams had their chances and looked dangerous in attack. However, only one goal was scored, and the match went into extra time.
Extra Time
In extra time both teams looked tired as a result of the sapping conditions in Kolkata, and a game similar to that played in the first half was to be seen.
In the 28th minute of extra time Uttam‘s cross went into the penalty area. Arindam failed to catch the ball and it landed right at Opara’s feet, but he rushed his shot and put in a tame effort over the bar.
The match then went into penalties, with Kailash Patil and Tapan Maity failing to score for the Mumbaikars, and Churchill converted four of their five penalties to grab a place in the final.
Penalty shoot-out
Kalu- scored
Harpreet - scored
Naveen - scored
Kailash - missed
Gouramangi scored
Tapan - missed
Vashum - missed
Vijith - scored
Nascimento - scored
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