The Hindu : Sport : Churchill Brothers crushes Salgaocar

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Saturday, Sep 08, 2007
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Sport

Churchill Brothers crushes Salgaocar

Vijay Lokapally

Edeh Chidi performs hat-trick for Dempo Sports Club

LUDHIANA: A sensational run by Odafe Onyeka Okolie culminated in a dream goal for the Nigerian as Churchill Brothers sank fancied Salgaocar Club 4-1 in a fascinating Goan clash in the Hero Cycles Federation Cup here on Friday.

Earlier, Dempo Sports Club, Goa, riding on Edeh Chidi’s hat-trick, made an emphatic statement on its form with a 3-0 victory over United Club, Kolkata to enter the quarterfinals.

In a pacy encounter, Churchill rose from a 15th minute deficit when Baba Tunde Badmus scored with a strong left footer. The goal shook Churchill Brothers from its slumber and produced a series of moves that rattled Salgaocar. The motivation behind Churchill Brothers’ revival was Odafe’s undying spirit. He received all round support too.

Odafe came close in a one on one with goalkeeper Milagrio Medeira but shot into him from close. Then D. Raju drove over the crosspiece. Salgaocar was shaky and soon conceded the equaliser in the 34th minute. A perfect floater from Khan Thang Paite was headed in smartly by Stephen Mbanyam. The teams retired for a break with honours even.

Odafe’s fine effort

On resumption, Churchill Brothers called the shots and came up with two brilliant goals. Odafe’s effort was the moment of the tournament thus far.

Beginning his move from near the half line, Odafe took the entire Salgaocar defence in his stride and slammed in from the top of the box with a left footer in the 49th minute. Seven minutes later Robert Lalthlamvana beat the goalkeeper with a 30 yarder.

The Odafe-Stephen combination produced another goal in the 87th minute. Odafe dazzled down the left and flicked for Stephen to just tap the ball in.

If Dempo managed to tame an energetic opposition, the credit lay with the rocklike defence manned by Mahesh Gawli and Samir Beto was the architect of Dempo’s goal in the 39th minute. He sent Edeh Chidi chasing a through and the athletic Nigerian beat the advancing Somnath Khara, sidestepped him and flicked the ball in nonchalantly.

Supremacy

Dempo enjoyed a spell of supremacy midway through the second half. It began when Beto won a ball from Kinshuk Debnath and put Chidi in possession.

Sensing a glorious chance, Chidi out-sped Ebami but his pile driver from just inside the box was well-blocked by Khara. If only Chidi had squared the ball for an unmarked Jerry Zirsanga.

Chidi was in action again when he broke through and squared the ball across the face of the United goal. But substitute Joaquim Abranches was late in putting his foot while Zirsanga connected, only to graze the crosspiece. A little later Valeriano Rebello emulated Zirsanga as Dempo camped in United territory.

Chidi made up with two fascinating goals in the 81st and 85th minute. He rocked United with a scorching right footer from the top of the box as he tore in from the left and then he left the rival defence frustrated, screaming down the middle, side-stepping the goalkeeper and placing the ball in with a flourish.

Saturday’s fixture: Mahindra United v Sporting Clube de Goa (7 p.m.).