ANI
08 Feb 2023, 10:25 GMT+10
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 8 (ANI): Mohammedan Sporting ended up on the losing side in an exciting I-League match here at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Tuesday as Churchill Brothers picked up their third away victory of the season. Finishing prowess made the difference as the Goan team won 2-1.
The morning did not show the day in this match. It was Mohammedan Sporting who seized the early initiative, earning the first corner of the match in the third minute and almost making it 1-0 two minutes later. Sheikh Faiaz, who was a livewire down the right, got into the box and could have gone for it himself but decided to pass to Mirlan Murzaev. He was under pressure from defender Ponif Vaz and could only hit the post.
Kibu Vicuna, the Mohammedan head coach, decided to play Marcus Joseph as a withdrawn forward once again and pushed Murzaev up front. Even though the former justified the coach's decision in a way by creating a lot of opportunities, Murzaev failed to prove he is cut out for his job. He got two unmarked heading opportunities a few minutes apart right in front of the goal in the first half. But he inexplicably headed the first one onto Churchill captain Momo Cisse's body, and on the second occasion, failed to even get a touch.
Mohammedan Sporting dominated for the first half an hour. Churchill got the first chance, even got the ball into the net, in the 33rd minute. Vaz headed in a Martin Chaves free-kick but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Mohammedan goalkeeper Zothanmawia.
Vaz was in the thick of things again four minutes later, this time in front of his own goal. Faiaz received a delightful through ball from Joseph, got into the Churchill box from the right and tried to pass to the middle but Vaz slid in for the clearance despite goalkeeper Albino Gomes being in a position to intercept. The ball could have easily gone in.
However, his side took the lead in style in the 42nd minute when Chaves passed to Sharif Mukhammad just outside Mohammedan box, and the Afghan midfielder coolly curled it over Zothanmawia, who was caught in no man's land.
Chaves had a great day and could have scored Churchill's second in the very next minute. The Uruguayan got open space down the right and tried to curl it in through the far post but missed it by a whisker.
The second half of this fascinating I-League match started in much the same fashion with Mohammedan building attack after attack. Faslu Rahman, coming in as a substitute, served a delicious cross to Murzaev in the 60th minute. Only Albino's outstretched foot stopped it from going in. In fact, he looked impregnable in that period, while his defence looked unsteady. So much so that Cisse, who had an otherwise perfect match, had to pull down goal-bound Faslu with his hands. Referee Jehrul Islam correctly gave him marching orders.
But Mohammedan's one-man advantage did not last long. Ruatkima brought down a rampaging Chaves to receive his second yellow card and was sent off in the 73rd minute. However, Vicuna's men kept attacking and Joseph did put the ball into the net six minutes later, only to be ruled offside.
Then Churchill assistant coach Mateus Costa made the change that eventually settled the issue. He replaced Emmanuel Yaghr with Hero of the Match Abdoulaye Sane. His presence was not felt immediately. On the contrary, when Albino spilled a powerful shot by Sandip Mandi for Abiola Dauda to pounce on it and equalise in the 90th minute, it seemed Mohammedan would get away with a point.
But Sane spoilt their day with a terrific goal. He came in from the right and went for the goal with his left foot, through the far post. The Mohammedan Sporting defence could not have done much about it.
With this win, the Red Machines are now in fourth position on the table with 23 points, while the Black and White Brigade stay ninth with 17 points. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Afghanistan Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Afghanistan Sun.
More InformationBRUSSELS, Belgium: European pharmaceutical companies are pushing for higher drug prices across the EU, warning that current pricing...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A nuclear power plant in Michigan is hoping to become the first in the U.S. to restart after being permanently shut...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: This week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it is taking steps to stop collisions between helicopters...
THE VATICAN - U.S. President Donald Trump met privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: This week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said they plan to remove artificial...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States plans to press India for sweeping changes to its e-commerce policies as part of negotiations aimed...
BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A selection of the best press photos from Xinhua.A drone photo taken on April 26, 2025 shows the Heiyingshan...
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 28 (ANI): BJP leader Dilip Ghosh condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and said that India was...
TAXKORGAN, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The cultural performance troupe of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County is renowned for its efforts in...
New Delhi [India] April 28 (ANI): India delivered a historic performance at the 2nd Asian Yogasana Sport Championship, sweeping the...
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], April 27 (ANI): The closing ceremony of the 6th Edition of the Joint Military Exercise Dustlik 2025 between...
(250427) -- BANGKOK, April 27, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Gold medalist Ikeda Kurena (3rd L) of Japan, silver medalist Kim Minju of South Korea...