Churchill, Vasco draw goalless

Zee Churchill moved to the top rung in the Tata National Football League along with their Goa mates Salgaocar after drawing goalless with another Goan outfit Vasco in a 14th round match at the Nehru stadium, in Margao, Goa, on Wednesday.

Both Salgaocar and Churchill have 26 points while Vasco swelled their tally to 25.

Vasco could have won outright had they utilised the chances that came their way, especially in the second half.

Play did not rise upto the expectations as both teams applied optimum resistance and was confined only to midfield for a major part of the first half.

In the eighth minute, Churchill's medio Roque Barreto's header sailed over the bar following a cross sent by Somatai Shaiza.

In the 26th minute, Vasco striker Rui Wanderley Weis's header missed the goal by a whisker, after Marcos Pereira, who dodged past a couple of rival defenders, sent a centre to him from the right flank.

The second half saw lot of action, with Vasco having a better share of the exchanges.

In the 53rd minute, Vasco's Marcos Pereira missed a sitter with only the goalkeeper to beat. Pereira snatched a ball from rival defender Mahesh Gowali from the centre and moved down with a ball only to shoot wide.

In the 56th minute, Wanderley's 40-yard attempt went over the bar, while in the 65th minute, Churchill goalkeeper Edward Ansah smartly saved a try from Marcos Pereira.

In the 68th minute, Vasco striker Peter Rodrigues was given marching orders by referee S Suresh of Tami Nnadu after he slapped Giftrai Khan of Churchill.

Fro the remaining 23 minutes Vasco played with ten players which saw Churchill gain ascendancy. They came near scoring on couple of occasions towards the close of play, but without much luck. Roque Barreto's and Abdul Ganiyu Saley's shots were saved by Vasco keeper Rozario Ramos.

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