Churchill halt Sporting's run

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October 19, 2008 20:24 IST

Odafe Okolie struck once in each half to end Sporting Clube De Goa's winning streak as Churchill Brothers scored an emphatic 3-0 victory in an ONGC I-League match at Nehru Stadium in Margao on Sunday.

Besides Odafe, who scored in the 15th and 54th minutes, Thokchom Naoba Singh found the target in the 68th minute for Churchill, who led 1-0 at half time.

Churchill now have seven points with two wins and one draw from three matches, while Sporting remained on nine points from four matches.

Churchill controlled the match throughout with the midfield striking a good rhythm along with their strikers and Odafe posed threat whenever he had the ball and he put his team up in the 15th minute.

A move from the right saw Robert relaying a forward pass to Odafe from the middle. Odafe then got the better of a rival defender before unleashing a firm grounder that beat rival keeper Felix Souza to his right.

Sporting did not look the same team that played against Mohun Bagan with their midfield lacking coordination and the upfront failing to penetrate into the rival danger zone and the absence of Joychandra Singh was felt in the upfront.

Junior Obagbemiro, who is the leading scorer with three goals, look off colour. He had a good chance in the second half to score but his shot was well blocked by keeper Arindam Bhattacharya.

Churchill keeper Arindam, who was not stretched much, did well to tip over Micky Fernandes and Nathaniel Amos twice in the second half.

After the change of ends, Churchill increased the lead in the 54th minute when Odafe uncorked a stunning shot from the top of the box that gave no chance to Sporting keeper Felix Dsouza to react.

Defender Thokchom Naoba Singh then ended the challenge of Sporting Club De Goa for a comeback when he essayed a powerful shot from the top of the box off a long pass by man of the match Odafe.

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