The game between Aizawl FC and Churchill Brothers FC Goa saw the visitors draw first blood through Willis Plaza in the 4th minute. An unfortunate own goal in the 42nd minute from Hussain Eldor of Churchill Brothers FC Goa saw the equalizer for Aizawl FC. Aizawl then took the lead in the 87th minute through Kromah who made no mistakes in converting a penalty that he had earned for the team to wrap up the game with a win a few minutes later. Aizawl FC goalkeeper Lalawmpuia was adjudged the hero of the match.

The Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizwal played host to the game between Aizawl FC and Churchill Brothers FC Goa. The hosts began the game in their traditional red kit while visitors Churchill Brothers FC Goa played in sky-blue.

Churchill started on an attacking note putting pressure on the home side right from the first minute. They were penetrating deep quite easily into the Aizawl FC defence and the results soon showed when Churchill Brothers FC Goa drew first blood as early as the 4th minute. Willis Plaza scored his 21st goal of the season through a beautiful cross from Nicholas Fernandes to take the scoreboard to 0-1 to Churchill Brothers FC Goa’s favour.

Churchill never really stopped attacking, thereafter, constantly trying to extend their lead, but full marks to Aizwal FC defenders Richard Kassaga and Govin Singh and goalkeeper for not allowing Churchill Brothers to score.

Aizawl FC looked settled by the half-hour mark into the first half and started creating chances through the combination of Issac, Lalrinchhanna constantly supplying to Kromah and Lalkhawpuimawia but Churchill’s defence was always on point disallowing the hosts to come close to any scoring opportunity.

Aizawl who were desperately looking for an equalizer finally managed to get an equalizer in the 42nd minute through an own goal from Churchill’s Hussain Eldor. What was interesting about this goal was the pressure that Aizawl FC created on Churchill’s defence when an outstanding cross from Lalrinchhanna to Lalkhawpuimawia was hastily interrupted by Eldor, but rather than clearing the ball safely, it ended up straight into the goal.

The game thereafter was an equal contest from both the teams bringing in a close to the first half with the scorecard reading 1-1.

The second half between Aizawl FC and Churchill Brothers FC Goa began with the hosts leading the attack to find a lead. Aizawl FC forwards Kromah and Lalkhawpuimawia kept the pressure up on Churchill Brothers but a combination of great defending and goalkeeping from the visitors ensured that Aizawl do not find a way to the back of the net.

Churchill Brothers, on the other hand, started with their attacks on the counter initially and found their way into the box as well, but lack of a good finish saw both the teams tied at 1-1 for a major part of the second half. Aizawl FC finally found their lead when Kromah made no mistake converting a penalty to hand Aizawl FC a 2-1 lead in the 87th minute.

Churchill Brothers FC Goa, thereafter, tried to restore parity but it was already too late. Aizawl FC, with this win, finished their 12th Hero I-League campaign in the 7th place with 24 points while Churchill Brothers FC Goa finished their campaign three places above with 34 points.

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Felix Odili (22?) scored from the 12-yard penalty spot and Bishorjit stood tall between the Red Machines and the back of the net to register a much-needed victory after back-to-back defeats back at their home.

Churchill Brothers named an unchanged squad that had beaten Indian Arrows 2-0 while there were three changes for the visiting Neroca FC. Neroca FC coach Gift Raikhan made three changes from the (0-1) defeat against Minerva Punjab FC with Saran Singh, Pritam Singh and Dhananjoy Singh coming into the playing eleven.

Govin Singh and Gopi Singh were dropped to the bench while A. Israilov did not feature in the match-day squad. Pritam Singh made an immediate impact as he drew a double save from Churchill custodian James Kithan in the 8th minute. Offensively, Neroca FC were the busier team early on as they were firing from all angles but their efforts were mostly flying off target.

They finally managed to find a breakthrough when Churchill Brothers’ fullback Wayne Vaz brought down Subash Singh in the box as the forward was racing down the left and the referee didn’t hesitate to award them a spot-kick in the 21st minute.

Felix Odili stepped up and coolly steered the ball under the outstretched arms of Kithan as the visitors led 1-0 in the 22nd minute. The home side then had to make a forced substitution when Uttam Rai injured himself and Israil Gurung replaced him. The Red Machines tried to get back into the game as they’re trying to deliver long balls to Koffi Mechac and Dawda Cissey in the middle from the middle of the pitch. But Neroca centrebacks Gouramani Singh and Varney Kallon aided by their full-backs stood tall.

After a long passage of play that saw Churchill’s Denechandram Meetei pick up a yellow card, Churchill Brothers had their first goal-scoring opportunity in the 44th minute. Some slick interchanges of passes saw Koffi try to beat Neroca goalkeeper Bishorjit Singh at the farthest corner but missed by a whisker. After the changeover, Churchill Brothers started to dominate the game.

They had a great chance when Meetei put a delicious low cross into the box that was not read by the Neroca keeper and Israil Gurung almost steered it into the net only to be denied by some last-ditch clearance.

Churchill were on the ascendancy and were turning the screws on Neroca. Bishorjit had to make a timely save to deny PM Britto who tried to curl a shot into the net from 12 yards out. Meetei also tried a shot from distance that swerved away from goal. Then came a series of attempts from a corner when Osagie Monday, Ceesay and Eldor Hussein all tried to breach the Neroca backline which held on.

Koffi had a shot after chesting down a pass from the middle but Bishorjit dived in time to hold onto it. It was then the turn of Bektur Talgat to fire at goal but that was saved again. Until the final whistle, Neroca hanged on to their slender lead to walking away with all three points to close the gap with leaders Minerva Punjab FC who are now 2 points ahead of Gift Raikhan’s boys having played two matches fewer.

Churchill Brothers FC Goa will face another daunting task in three days when they host Minerva Punjab FC and Neroca FC will host Gokulam Kerala FC on 4th January 2018 next.

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Churchill Brothers are languishing at the bottom of the table as they are winless after four away games. The fixture list has not been kind to them with the Goan side facing the likes of Shillong Lajong, Mohun Bagan, Aizawl FC and East Bengal where they failed to take a single point facing teams which finished in the top half of the table last season.

“We started very badly against (Shillong) Lajong and Mohun Bagan. So after that, we sorted out a lot of things and the team is gelling very well. As you have seen, in our performance against Aizawl, we could have still come out with a point. We conceded in the 88^th minute because of a lapse in concentration,” Alfred Fernandes the stand-in coach of Churchill Brothers opined.

The game against East Bengal was one of their better performances where they looked like earning a 2-2 draw only to see Willis Plaza score late into added time. “In the East Bengal match, if not three points we could have come out with a point. The referee played on another two minutes in which they scored,” Alfred rued before adding; “A little bit of luck and we could have come out with a win. If not a win, at least a point would have been a deserving one.”

Their Tuesday’s opponents Chennai City FC have also not had the best of starts to the season despite what was a possibly an easier set of fixtures. While dwelling on his team’s bad run of form, Chennai City FC Coach V Soundararajan empathized with Churchill Brothers.

“Both the teams are on very low on points. But compared to us, they played all the vital matches. Like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal. They have improved a lot. Unfortunately in the extra-time, one minute than extra time, they conceded the goal. They did a wonderful workout against a well-organized side. We also feel for them. Anyway, we don’t want to lose a point,” Soundararajan stated.

The Chennai City FC coach also rued a lack of luck for his own team, “The team has not settled yet. But all the matches we are maintaining the possession and all but the luck is not with us. Against Neroca, we missed a penalty,” he said.

Churchill Brothers will look to take advantage of playing at home and will again look to rely on winger Nicholas Fernandes who has rediscovered his form after a poor season in the last edition. “It is the coach’s confidence in me. Last year, I was a bit off. This year, I thought over it and I am trying to give my best to the club. Whatever is good for the team, I will keep doing it,” the winger said.

Both teams are after precious points in a bit to get out of the bottom of the league. The match will be broadcasted LIVE and Exclusive on Star Sports 2/HD and streamed live on Hotstar and Jio TV at 8:00 PM IST.

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In a thrilling finish, Kingfisher East Bengal won 3-2 against Churchill Brothers when they hosted the Goan outfit in the Hero I-League 2017/18 at the Barasat Stadium on Saturday

Peter Omoduemuke broke the deadlock in the 14th minute but Laldanmawia Ralte was quick to make matters even for the hosts two minutes later. Willis Plaza ended his goalless run of games with a brace (45’+2?, 90’+7?) on either halves’ injury time with Nicholas Fernandes’ 59th-minute equalizer sandwiched in between.

While Khalid Jamil retained the same starting lineup which thrashed Shillong Lajong 5-1 last weekend, Alfred Fernandes’ side was buoyed by the inclusion of Kalu Ogba. The 2009 league winner rejoined the club after seven years and slotted right into the centre of the park of the team still looking for their first win of the season.

It was the visitors who drew first blood and that too against the run of play. Nicholas Fernandes’ cross into the box towards Uttam Rai was intercepted and brought down by Arnab Mondal. The loose ball, in turn, was laid down by Israil Gurung for Peter Omoduemuke who made a sharp run in towards the box. The Nigerian’s first-time shot went into the top right corner of the net as Churchill Brothers had scored their first goal of the season!

That joy was shortlived as Katsumi Yusa started a counter-attack, feeding the ball to Willis Plaza who swivelled to find Laldanmawia Ralte beating his marker. The former Aizawl FC man equalised within a minute and few seconds, bringing up his third goal of the season.

Kingfisher East Bengal remained the dominant side throughout the first half and that was reflected well as they walked into the half-time break a goal ahead, scored by Willis Plaza in the injury time. The Trinidad and Tobago international was fed a dangerous cross from Katsumi Yusa from the left and despite Suraj Singh and Banpynkhrawnam Nongkhlaw marking him Plaza was able to get the header in, marking the end of his barren run in front of goal.

Just on the stroke of the hour mark, the Goan side found the equalizer through Nicholas Fernandes. The former Sporting Goa player ran in from the left side as Prakash Sarkar was beaten for pace. He then lobbed the ball into the net with a beautiful left-footer which silenced the home crowd.

That triggered the attacking substitutions of Mohammed Rafique and Charles De Souza into the Kingfisher East Bengal mix.

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Defending champions Aizawl FC got the better of Churchill Brothers FC Goa 1-0, thanks to the late strike by the forward Yugo Kobayashi. Although the Aizawl FC fans had to wait till the 88th minute for the goal, the game provided enough of nervy and heart pumping moments to them.

William Lalnunfela, who scored a brace for Aizawl against Kingfisher East Bengal was the notable absentee against Churchill Brothers. Shylo Malsawmtluanga, the most experienced player in the squad again had to sit out today meaning he will have to wait longer to make his debut for Aizawl FC in I-League.

Churchill coach Shevchenko made three changes to his playing XI that faced Mohun Bagan in their previous match. Suraj and Israil Gurung took the field as Karthik Govindswamy and Emuejeraye Precious failed to retain their place in the starting line-ups. The home side did not waste time in carving out their first chance of the match. Centre back Saighani perfectly weighted a through ball which was chased down by Mka to deliver a perfect cross for Ivorian forward Dodoz, but the forward who have played for Aizawl’s rival Chanmari FC earlier could not convert his golden chance.

His header was parried away by Churchill goalkeeper Kithan. Japanese forward Kobayashi’s shot from inside the box was blocked by centre-back Osagie Monday a few seconds later. Though Aizawl dominates possession for the better part of the first half, they could not create any clear-cut chance, injury to David dented the home team as they lacked creativity and ideas in the attacking third of the pitch. The first half ended in a scoreless draw.

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After the hour-mark, the home side upped the tempo of the game and created several good chances but Yugo Kobayashi could not convert the chances that fell on his path. Just when Churchill thought they deserved a point from the game Kobayashi scored the only goal of the game in the 88th minute. Having calmly tucked in Dodoz’s pass calmly, the shrewd forward slotted the solitary goal of the match.

Towards the end of the game, six additional minutes fell short for Churchill Brothers who are still left empty-handed after three straight losses in the ongoing season. Aizawl with 4 points from 2 games now move up to the fifth spot on the table but Churchill Brothers FC Goa’s nightmare continues as the Red Machines continue to totter at bottom of the table.

The Goan team have to quickly shrug off the loss as they travel to Kolkata to play the high-flying Kingfisher East Bengal on December 16, 2017. Aizawl will play their next home game against Shillong Lajong two days later

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