Churchill Brothers win their maiden I-League title

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Churchill broke their jinx having lost out on the title on four occasions.

New Delhi: The verdict is out and Churchill Brothers have won their maiden I-League title in style with a 6-2 victory and thus sending Mohammedan Sporting back to where they came from at the start of this season.

The Goan champions have broken their jinx having lost out on the title on four occasions and it makes coach Zoran Djordjevic the first foreign coach to have won the I-League.

It was an emphatic win for the home side as they romped and scored six goals and thus brushed aside all doubts which were brought into discussion by the Mohun Bagan camp with regards to their 9-1 victory over Vasco earlier this season.

Churchill Brothers finished with 46 points and their closest rivals Mohun Bagan finished on 43 after being defeated by Mahindra United in their last match.

Churchill Brothers made one expected change in their starting line-up as coach Zoran Djordjevic opted for Lalit Thapa between the bars instead of Arindam Bhattacharya who had a poor last game. Mohammedan Sporting were forced to start with third choice goalkeeper Manas Barua as the other two were out of contention.

The first action happened in the third minute as Kalu Nnanna fouled Suroj Mondal from behind and Eugene Gray sent the resultant free-kick straight into the hands of Lalit Thapa.

Churchill Brothers’ couldn’t have asked for a better start as their first attack resulted in them taking the lead. Felix Chimaokwu’s throughball saw Vashum being in an one-on-one situation with just the goalkeeper to beat. The right winger decided to set-up Odafa at the far post but an onrushing Wasim Feroz slotted the ball into his own net which pretty much summed up the season for Mohammedan Sporting.

Three minutes later, if anyone had doubts as to Churchill being lucky it was put to rest by skipper Odafa Okolie from a throw-in. He caught the defender on his wrong side made space for himself and found the top corner.

In the 11th minute, Robert Lalthampuana had to be stretchered off as Eugene Gray fouled the Churchill left-back who had to be substituted.

D Raju made his way in. Mohammedan’s did manage to send a through ball to Suroj Mondal but Churchill custodian Lalit Thapa came out in time and conceded a corner.

Coach Shabbir Ali substituted Adebayo Adewusi for Sovan Chakraborty in the heart of the midfield after 20 minutes of play.

Reisangmi Vashum’s brilliant run from left ended in a shot which was blocked by an alert Mansa Barua. Felix Chimaokwu seemed to be at ease and found Kalu Nnanna in acres of space but the Nigerian mediao opted to find Odafa who was in an offside position instead of going for glory himself.

Felix Chimaokwu was at it again as his cross from the right saw Wasim Feroz make a crucial tackle which averted the danger Odafa posed inside the box around the half hour mark. Felix released Paite and the left winger’s first time shot was blocked by Mans Barua.

The former Salgaocar striker at last had a shy at Mohammedan goal from 22 yards with his long ranger being ably punched away by Manas Barua.

Towards the end of the first session, a brilliant one-two between Kalu and Odafa saw the former being almost through but Manas Barua kept the scoreline intact for Mohammedan.

The second session start disappointingly for the home side as Rowilson Rodrigues conceded a free-kick which saw a Satyajit Bose delivery being headed home by Mike Okoro.

However, Churchill Brothers closed the contest when Odafa Okolie found Felix Chimaokwu who rounded off the Mohammedan custodian and unleashed a right footer onto the far post around the hour mark.

Two minutes later, it was Paite’s turn to score his first goal in the I-League as his first time shot into the top corner from a Felix Chmaokwu cross extended his team’s lead.

Mohammedan Sporting brought in the pacy Jothi Kumar for their second foreigner with Eugene Gray being sacrificed. In the meantime, Kalu Nnanna tried his luck on a couple of occasions from distance but failing to hit on target.

Churchill Brothers did create a few half chances but failed to make the most of them. At the other end, a Mike Okoro cross from the left saw an unmarked Satyajit Bose shoot it over.

The fifth goal came in the 84th minute as Felix Chimaokwu’s cross saw Bineesh Balan laying it for his skipper Odafa Okolie who slotted it first time to take his personal tally of goals to 26.

Bineesh Balan’s fresh legs injected more pace in the Goan side and the winger found Felix Chimaokwu who was disposed. Naoba Singh stole the ball from the Mohammedan player and sent his a fierce right footer to complete to proceedings.

In the third minute of injury time, substitute Jothi Kumar did add his name on the scoresheet but it couldn’t help his side from joining Vasco SC into the second division.

The Churchill Brothers camp broke into the party mode after the final whistle and understandable so. Coach Zoran Djordjevic was seen crying but deserves some respect for winning the I-League in his very first season.

Goalscorers Churchill: Wasim Feroz (og 5th min), Odafa Okolie (8th and 84th mins), Felix Chimaokwu (61st min), Khan Thang Paite (63rd min) and Naoba Singh (88th min)

Goalscorers Mohammedan Sporting: Mike Okoro (52nd min) and Jothi Kumar (90 + 3 min)