I-League: Churchill Bros falter after bright start

Panaji: Churchill Brothers showed their title credentials inside the first 20 minutes, scoring twice against Shillong Lajong FC, but familiar woes struck them again as they conceded just as easily to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw at the SSA Stadium in Shillong on Sunday.

South African striker Wayde Lekay combined superbly with Colombian Sebastian Gutierrez to score in the 14th and 21st minutes. It was a perfect start, that too away from home, but Shillong Lajong fought back with goals from Douglas Tardin and Renan Paulinho.

Churchill seized control of the game early, their midfield outpacing, outthinking and outworking the hosts. In the 14th minute, the visitors took a deserved lead through Lekay. Played through by Gutierrez’s lobbed ball, the South African outmuscled defender Aman Ahlawat before lobbing the goalkeeper to give Churchill the lead.

Seven minutes later, Churchill doubled it. Lekay again was the scorer, his quick thinking when offside outwitting Lajong’s high line defence who were looking for the flag. Lekay had ignored the first pass though and Gutierrez instead picked it up on the left wing. His low cross to the near post was finished brilliantly by an onrushing Lekay.

Despite facing a two-goal deficit, Lajong fought back and their effort paid dividend in the 35th minute as Tardin took a brilliant first touch, turned and slotted it into the bottom corner all in one motion, from inside the box.

The hosts got the equaliser in the 50th from a quick throw-in. Lajong played a series of smart one-twos before Tardin laid it off for Paulinho to equalise.



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