Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Pune: India’s Churchill Brothers kick-stared their AFC Cup campaign with a clinical 3-0 win over Singapore’s Warriors FC in Group E on Tuesday.
Jaison Vales opened the scoring after 37 minutes for Churchill Brothers, who reached the Round of 16 in 2010, at Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex before Bikramjit Singh doubled the lead just before half-time with his second goal of the campaign having netted in the 2-2 draw with Indonesia’s Semen Padang three weeks ago.
And with six minutes remaining Sunil Chhetri, who was also on target last month, netted to seal the win for Churchill Brothers as Mariano Dias’ side moved within two points of second place Kitchee after the Hong Kong champions suffered a 2-1 home defeat by Semen.
“We played very well even though we were missing quite a few of our first team players. This team believes in itself and the players played for each other,” said Churchill Brothers coach Dias.
“We have a good chance to make it past the group stage as we have lost one, drawn one and won one and our next match in Singapore will be crucial and it is a game that we have to win.
“Sunil Chhetri is getting back into form by playing some games and his performance today was good.”
With Churchill Brothers looking to build on picking up their first point of the campaign at home to Semen last month, Vales’s superb right-footed strike from just outside the area gave Warriors goalkeeper Sunny Hassan no chance eight minutes before half-time.
And with just over a minute remaining in the first half, Chhetri found Singh inside the area and the midfielder was left with an easy finish past Hassan to double Churchill Brothers’ advantage.
Warriors were unable to find a response in the second half and with six minutes remaining Ravanan Dharmaraj’s long ball found Balal Arezou and the Afghanistan international midfielder unselfishly picked out Chhetri, who rounded Hassan before sealing the win.
“We are disappointed with the result, but Churchill Brothers’ midfield was brilliant. We were disappointing in the first half, however, I was happy with our performance in the second half,” said Warriors coach Selvaraj Vengadasalam.
“I still believe that we can qualify for the knockout stage. We have got three more games to go and I have faith in my team.”