Churchill, Tollygunge draw

Goa's Churchill Brothers and Calcutta's Tollygunge Aggragami battled to a 1-1 draw in their fifth National Football League match at the Nehru stadium, in Margao, Goa, on Tuesday.

Both the goals came in the first-half.

Seriki Abdullateef put Tollygunge ahead in the 10th minute, but the lead was shortlived as Churchill defender Osamanu Husseni restored parity in the 19th minute.

With this drawn match, Churchill maintained their fourth position on the 12-team league table with 32 points while Tollygunge took their tally to 23 points.

In a fast-paced game, with both the teams having an equal share of the exchanges, Tollygunge shot into the lead as early as in the 10th minute through Abdullateef, whose perfect header, from a cross from the left flank by Shasti Duley, found the left corner of the goal, beating rival goalkeeper Edward Ansah completely.

Stung by the goal, Churchill roared back into the game and restored the parity in the 19th minute through defender Osamanu Hussain, when Tollygunge's Felix Abadami brought down Churchill's Aandre Requena at the top of the box, when he was dangerously moving in with the ball. Referee Krishna Avtar from Delhi awarded a free-kick. Osamanu's thundering shot went straight into the net.

Inspired by the equaliser, Churchill stepped up the pressure and had more possession of ball during the remaning part of the first half. They could have increased thier lead had Andre Reguena and Igor Shkvirin not missed a chance each.

In the 35th minute, following a goalmouth melee, Igor was not quick to grasp the advantage and the ball was cleared by rival defender.

Then, three minutes before the breather Andre's try sailed over the bar.

Churchill could have won outright had Osamnau's header in the dying minutes of the match found the net following a cross sent by defender Rajesh Meetei.

Tomorrow title aspirants East Bengal clash with Vasco Sports Club of Goa.