I-League 2017-18: Churchill Brothers vs Mohun Bagan, Player Ratings
It was a crucial encounter as Churchill Brothers hosted title contenders Mohun Bagan at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco, Goa.
The home side Churchill Brothers started the match in the ninth position on the table battling relegation with 17 points from their sixteen matches this season. Mohun Bagan, on the other hand, began in the fourth spot with 27 points from the same number of matches and a chance to leapfrog their fierce rivals East Bengal on the table.
Mohun Bagan won the crucial match with a 2-1 scoreline as Nikhil Kadam and Akram Moghrabi scored either side of the goal by Osagie Monday as they keep their title hopes alive. The Mariners moved into the third spot with a total of 30 points from their seventeen matches so far.
Churchill Brothers
James Kithan (5/10) - The Churchill keeper had a quiet first half as Mohun Bagan did not have many attacks on the goal. He was beaten twice in the second half when Kadam and Moghrabi scored past him.
Osagie Monday (7/10) - The Churchill skipper played in central defence for the home side and was strong with his tackles and even had a goal disallowed in the first half. He was a threat going ahead as well scoring in the second half equaliser with an easy finish in the 74th minute.
Denechandram Meitei (5/10) - The left-back for the Goan side was kept busy on his flank as the Bagan wingers attacked with intent.
Hussain Eldor (5.5/10) - The centre-back partnered with Monday in the Churchill defence and was a strong presence in the backline having to deal with the threat of the league's top scorer Dipanda Dicka inside the box.
Richard Costa (5.5/10) - The local boy played alongside Ceesay and put in an industrious shift with movement up and down the midfield. He moved the ball around well in the centre for the home side.
Dawda Ceesay (6/10) - The tall midfielder played as the defensive midfielder for the Red Machine and did a good job of breaking up Mohun Bagan plays with his physicality. He had a couple of efforts from long-range that tested Shilton Paul in the Bagan goal.
Israil Gurung (6/10) - The youngster was the go-to man for Churchill on setpieces and provided good deliveries into the box. It was his cross that was put in by Monday but the goal was disallowed by the referee.
Britto PM (6.5/10) - The left winger for the Goan side was always threatening with his skills and ability to take on the Bagan defenders on the flank with his pace. He put in a lot of crosses into the box from the left side for the Churchill attackers.
Uttam Rai (5/10) - The Indian winger had an unproductive game as he struggled against the away defence. He was replaced in the second half by Nicholas Fernandes.
Jeancy Siyo (5/10) - Siyo played behind Frincis in the Churchill attack and found it tough against the Bagan defenders. He was substituted in the second half when Bektur Uulu came on to replace him.
Onyeama Frincis (6/10) - Frincis played the lone man up ahead for Churchill and was moving all across the box making it tough for the Bagan defence.
Substitutes:
Nicholas Fernandes (5.5/10) - The Goan lad came on to replace Uttam Rai and did well on the left flank with his pace and movement to provide good balls for the attackers.
Bektur Uulu (4/10) - The attacker replaced the misfiring Siyo for the home side as the Churchill coach introduced fresh legs in the second half.
Pawan Kumar (4/10) - The defender came on to replace Britto PM in the second half of the match.