Churchill Bros return to form with 3-1 win over Real Kashmir

MARGAO

Churchill Brothers FC secured a dominant 3-1 victory over Real Kashmir FC in the eleventh round of the I-League at the Raia Sports Complex on Thursday. The win took the Red Machines to the top of the table with 22 points from 11 matches, while Real Kashmir FC suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, remaining in fifth place.

This marked Churchill Brothers’ seventh win of the season. The goals for the Red Machines came from Nischal Chandan (7'), Anil Rama Gaonkar (21'), and Trijoy Savio Dias (79'), while Paulo Cezar Pereira Dos Santos (27') netted a goal for Real Kashmir FC.

Churchill Brothers came out with an aggressive mindset from the start and capitalized on their chances, while Real Kashmir struggled to find the target when it mattered most. The Red Machines broke the deadlock early in the 7th minute when Lalremruata sent in a cross that Chandan nodded in with ease.

Real Kashmir had an opportunity to respond when Senegalese striker Elhadji Karim Samb thought he had scored in the 14th minute, but the assistant referee Aleem Basha ruled him offside. Despite being more aggressive, Churchill Brothers remained clinical and doubled their lead in the 21st minute. Gaonkar dribbled past a defender and fired a snapshot into the net after a precise pass from Trijoy Dias.

Real Kashmir got back into the game in the 27th minute when Paulo Cezar Pereira Dos Santos successfully converted a penalty after being fouled inside the box by Churchill Brothers defender. The spot kick sent goalkeeper Niraj Kumar the wrong way, reducing the deficit to 2-1.

Churchill Brothers, however, continued to press and had several chances to extend their lead. Wayde Lekay had a chance to score, but his weak shot was easily saved by Real Kashmir’s goalkeeper Mohammad Arbaz. Later, Pape Gassama wasted a golden opportunity, sending his attempt off target.

The match was sealed in the 79th minute when Real Kashmir's goalkeeper Arbaz misjudged a clearance, which fell to Trijoy Dias, who made no mistake in converting it into a goal to make it 3-1. In injury time, Churchill Brothers' striker came close to adding a fourth but was unlucky as his shot hit the post.

With the 3-1 victory, Churchill Brothers moved to the top spot in the I-League standings, while Real Kashmir faces a tough challenge as they remain in the middle of the table.

Head coach Dimitris Dimitriou praised the effort of his players while emphasizing the importance of staying grounded as they look ahead to their next challenge.

"The boys played exceptionally well and followed our plan to the letter," said Head Coach Dimitris Dimitriou. "It was a must-win game after last Saturday's defeat. Today, the boys played for our fans and for Mr. Churchill Alemao, the patron of the club, and his family, to whom we felt we owed this victory after last Saturday's disappointment."

"We faced a very tough opponent, but the determination, passion, and hard work of our players led us to the three points. However, we haven’t achieved anything more than that—just the three points," Dimitriou added. "We must remain humble. We can enjoy this victory tonight, but tomorrow we will get back to work and focus on the next game on Monday."

"Congratulations to the boys," Dimitriou concluded.

Real Kashmir FC head coach Ishaq Ahmed expressed his disappointment. Speaking to Goan media following the match, Ahmed reflected on the missed opportunity to climb up the standings.

“I feel very sad. This was a good chance to move up in the standings," said Ahmed. "We had more possession, more shots, and better opportunities. But as I told the players, in this competition, you make just one mistake and you’re out.”

He continued, “We made a mistake and lost focus. This is football. We controlled the game, created chances, had a very good attitude, and played aggressively, but one mistake cost us. We need to accept it and learn from our mistakes.”

Ahmed admitted it was a tough pill to swallow, adding, “It’s a pity because after a game like that, you normally expect to win. Sometimes, football isn’t fair.”

Ahmed concluded by congratulating Churchill Brothers, saying, “It’s all about mistakes and controlling the details. It would have changed the result if we had scored one goal. We have to accept the outcome. Congratulations to Churchill Brothers. This is sport.”