The Churchill Brothers led their side to a victory on Sunday, taking their unbeaten streak to five games. After an own goal gave Kenkre FC the lead, Komron Tursunov and Kenneth Ikechuwku's goals in the last 15 minutes of the match helped Churchill Brothers secure the victory.
The match was played at the Naihati Stadium in West Bengal. Churchill Brothers' Nigerian defender Momo Sise's own goal gave Kenkare FC the lead in the 49th minute, but a goal from Tajikistan's Komron Tursunov in the 75th minute levelled the score for Goa. Nigerian Kenneth Ikechukwu's goal in the 81st minute proved to be decisive as it gave the two-time title winners three points.
This was Churchill Brothers' fifth win in 11 matches. The Goa-based team now has 17 points and has a chance to play in the championship. It has secured 13 points from their last five matches alone, which includes four wins and one draw. Debuting in the tournament, Kenkre FC, who is yet to register a single win in the league, has lost for the fourth time in a row now. This was their eighth defeat in the tournament. They stand last on the league table with two points after 10 matches.
As it happened...
Kenkare FC gave Churchill Brothers an equal fight in the first half of the match, but both the teams were unable to break the deadlock till halftime. Churchill Brothers, who are currently on high morale, were shocked in the fourth minute after the break when Momo Cice hit the ball into his own team's net in an attempt to divert the opponent's cross. After the setback, the Churchill Brothers played with urgency to get an equaliser. In the 60th minute, Kenkre FC's Kiran Pandhare found himself free inside the box to get a header on a cross from the right. But the shot went above the post and Kenkre lost an opportunity to double the lead. After that, Kenkre FC fell back to defend their lead and register their first win in the league.
But Churchill Brothers deservingly equalised when Komron's powerful shot from Lamgoulen Hangshing's brilliant cross went straight into the net. A few minutes later, Komron again came into the scene as he struck another low shot from the left flanks, only for it to hit the side post. With nine minutes to go, Churchill Brothers' Kenneth took a spectacular low shot from outside the box which went past the entire Kenkre's defence into the net, and Churchill Brothers managed to get a 2-1 lead. With a few more minutes remaining, Kenkre FC tried to salvage a point but ultimately, the game ended with Churchill Brothers securing a solid three points.