Heartbreak for Sporting as Churchill go through on penalties

After both teams failed to score in the 120 minutes of play, Churchill found the back of the net thrice in as many chances, while their opponents messed up, failing to convert any.

But it wasn’t just the scoreline that was a dampener. Churchill’s much-hyped Nigerian duo of Ogba Kalu Nnanna and Odafa Onyeka, too failed to make a mark. At times, in fact, the Indian duo of Chandam Singh and Savio Monteiro looked better than Odafa and Kalu. It didn’t affect the outcome, though, as Sporting couldn’t test their rivals’ defence either. Thoundam Singh looked pedestrian while Bisheshwor Singh and Freddy Mascarenhas floundered after impressive moves. Defender Micky Fernandez took the matter in his hands and attacked, but was left screaming as no one came to assist him. Sporting were made to pay for being too generous and squandering opportunities. In the penalty shootout, Churchill goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya made a valiant save off Bisheshwor’s kick, while Odafa had no trouble banging it in past Felix D’Souza.