Mumbai, March 28: A late equaliser helped hosts Air
India (AI) hold Churchill Brothers, Goa 1-1 in a crucial 21st
round match of the ONGC I-League at the Cooperage here to keep
the title hunt still wide open.
Churchill went ahead late in the first half during added
time when their Nigerian striker Felix Chimaokwu left-footed
the ball from near the left post off a deflection from his
compatriot and teammate Odafe Okolie.
Churchill, with their large posse of fans drumming up
noisy support in the stands, looked like having sealed up the
tie when AI, who fought tooth and nail right through, drew
parity in the 88th minute through foreigner Emmanuel
Ovieghara.
Ovieghara, who had done very little in the league till
today and was brought on as a second-half substitute for
Ravinder Singh by AI coach Bimal Ghosh, was at the right place
to find the net from an excellent goalmouth chip from medio
Michael Tayo.
Ovieghara`s fag-end equaliser meant that Churchill`s
hopes of tightening their hold on the title did not bear
fruit. The draw has boosted their tally to 43 ahead of their
concluding tie at home against Kolkata`s Mohammedan Sporting.
Churchill`s closest rivals, fellow-Goans Sporting Clube
de Goa, and Mohun Bagan were also held to draws by Mahindra
United and JCT, Phagwara respectively to keep them firmly in
the running for the coveted football crown.
AI`s central defender Chukwuma Udofia must be credited
for keeping the dangerous Odafe, the highest scorer in the
league with 24 strikes, well under a tight leash right through
the contest.
Udofia gave Odafe very little leeway to get a clear look
at the AI goal. But AI, with their hands full in trying to
check Odafe, did not have the man to keep the other capable
Nigerian striker Felix under control and he conjured up a
number of moves up front.
It was AI who dominated the first half hour by running
hard and outpacing their rivals. They could have gone ahead
as early as the sixth minute but for Subash Singh shooting
over the bar from an acute angle off a brilliant through pass
from Gouranga Biswas.
Churchill, who employed Reisangmi Vashum up front in the
first half, were denied a possible penalty by referee Predeep
Kumar when he was tripped by Udofia inside the box during a
scrimmage late in the opening half.
Churchill then went up 1-0 when a long chip into the
crowded area saw the ball bouncing off Odafe to Felix who went
around a defender and scored with his left foot.
Churchill and Odafe were unlucky not to have taken a 2-0
lead early in the second half when the Nigerian sharp-shooter
struck the crosspiece.
AI then made two changes by bringing in Emmanuel for
Ravinder, in the seventh minute after resumption, and Samson
Singh for Bijoy Basfore in the 72nd minute of the tie.
Churchill too brought on Bineesh Balan for Khan Thang
Paite in the 81st minute.
The equaliser for the airmen came against the run of
play. Tayo chipped the ball into a crowded area and Emmanuel
was on hand to nod the ball first bounce to bulge the net.
Bureau Report
