Dempo inflict 2-0 win over Churchill

 Dempo Sports Club heaped further misery on struggling Churchill Brothers Sports Club as they condemned them to a 2-0 defeat in the Airtel Super League match played at Duler Stadium here on Wednesday. 

Strikes from Nickson Castanha and Allwyn George on either side of the half-time were enough to see the blues secure full points.

Although level on 23 points with Churchill Brothers, Dempo find themselves at 3rd position as the former have better goal difference. Churchill, on the other hand, after suffering their second consecutive loss seem to lose their grip on the title.

Sanjay Balmuchu would have been disappointed not to have opened the scoring for Churchill early on as he ballooned over from inside the 6-yard box.

Churchill continued to surge forward and went close again when Jaison Vales set up Thangjam Singh but his shot on the volley was easily dealt with by Dempo custodian Laxmikant Kattimani.

The Azuri were under constant pressure and found it hard to contain Churchill’s attack. An error, which should have been a routine clearance, almost cost Prathamesh Maulingkar as Jaison attempted to lob the keeper but Laxmikant plucked the ball out of the air to save his colleague the blushes.

It was all about Churchill and the chances were came thick and fast. Alesh Sawant drove at the Dempo backline before he slipped a through pass to Jaison but his shot curled wide off the far post.

The red machines were the superior side but Dempo brought their momentum to an abrupt halt as they netted against the run of play before the half hour mark. Captain Ravanan Dharmaraj was unlucky as he saw his clearance fall straight to the feet of Nickson Castanha and he found the bottom corner with a blistering grounder. 

Dempo’s Prathamesh Maulingkar, who seldom features in the line-up, lasted a poor 30 minutes after he picked up what looked like a groin injury and forced Arthur Papas to introduce Debabrata Roy into the fray.

Medio Micky Fernandes nearly restored parity before the half time whistle when Thangjam set him up from Alesh’s flagkick but his blinder of an effort went a whisker wide of the crossbar. 

Churchill dominated the entire first half but the scoreline told a completely different story. The difference being that Dempo capitalised on their opportunities while the Reds were wasteful in front of goal.

The momentum changed in Dempo’s favour after resumption and Myron Fernandes should have got his name on the scoresheet after he was put through on goal by Nickson but he shot wide with only the keeper between him and the goal.

It was a busy second half for keepers of both sides as they were repeatedly called into action.

Churchill were unlucky not to have equalised when Jaison’s header from Micky’s cross crashed against the crossbar.

Jaison who was at the heart of every positive move for Churchill should have equalised but he disappointingly failed to find the net as he headed wide from handshaking distance.

At the other end a quick counter attacking move saw Joy Ferrao send in a delightful floater and Allwyn George who was denied by the post earlier found the net in spectacular fashion as he connected on the half volley and sealed the victory.

The frustration was evident and it started to show as Elvis Barreto came in with a dangerous tackle on Gabriel Fernandes prompting referee Elvis Simoes to brandish a direct red. 

Scenes followed as Churchill coach Mariano Dias lost his cool and walked on to the pitch to confront the referee.

The Man of the Match awarded was handed to Allwyn George while Nickson Castanha picked up the award for Goal of the Match at the hands of GFA vice-president Lavino Rebello.