I-League: Churchill Brothers suffer 0-2 loss to Mumbai FC

I-League champions Churchill Brothers SC suffered a 0-2 loss to Mumbai FC in their home match played on Saturday afternoon at the Duler ground in Mapusa.

With the overcast conditions and rains both the teams started on a cautious note on the artificial turf but as the game progressed Mumbai FC struck the goals at crucial moments though Churchill Brothers played well and held a lot of possession.

Churchill Brothers dominated the first half but could not get that all important goal, while Mumbai FC also made some forays inside the Red Machines area but had no significant attempts. The Red Machines had got a wonderful opportunity to take the lead in the 40th minute when T. Bineesh Balan was brought down inside the Mumbai FC box by Valeriano Rebello. Striker Henri Antchouet stepped up to take the spot kick but his shot towards the right was saved by the Mumbai FC goalkeeper Kunal Sawant.

Just at the start of the second half Mumbai FC scored through striker Orok Essien. The goal was scored within seconds of the second-half kick-off. Orok received the ball from the Mumbai FC midfield, rounded of Churchill Brothers stopper Adosope Hammed and placed the ball past goalkeeper Lalit Thapa.

Thereafter Churchill Brothers stepped up the tempo and went for an all-out attacking game which saw them creating plenty of scoring opportunities but the Red Machines could not capitalize on them. In the 71 minute first Saran Singh’s shot was blocked by a Mumbai FC defender and a few seconds later Bineesh Balan’s shot was saved by the Mumbai FC keeper Kunal Sawant.

But as they say there is always a risk in playing an allout attacking game as Mumbai FC doubled their lead against the run of play in the 87th minute when former India captain Climax Lawrence scored for Mumbai FC after he received a pass and coolly placed it into the Churchill Brothers net beating keeper Lalit Thapa.