Churchill Brothers won their maiden I-League title after a 6-2 thrashing of Mohammedan Sporting in their last round encounter at Nehru Stadium here today.
The winners, who led 2-0 at half time, scored through Reisangmi Vashum (5th), Odafe Okolie (8th, 84th), Felix Chimaokwu (61st), Khanthangpaite (63rd) and Thokchom Naoba Singh (87th)
Mike Okoro (52nd) and substitute Jothikumar (90th) found the target for Mohammedan. Churchill, who topped the table with 46 points, earned Rs 50 lakh as winners prize purse. With the loss today, Mohammedan (22 points) were relegated to the second division by finishing 11th in the 12-team I-League. Vasco (10 points) is the other team relegated to second division.
Mohammedan started promisingly with better ball possession early on but their defence caved in under pressure by conceding two goals in three minutes.
I-League top scorer Odafe Okolie laid a through pass to Reisangmi Vashum who, on entering the box, centred the ball which defender Wasim Feroz tried to clear in haste only to end in shooting the ball into his own goal in the fifth minute. Three minutes later, Sporting citadel fell again. Odafe Okolie made sure that his team did not lose hold of the title as he got the better of a defender and gently placed the ball to the far end of the net off a forward pass from Khan Thang Paite.
Churchill Bros could have easily led by bigger margin at the interval had it not for Sporting keeper Manas Barua who brought off smart saves from close from Reisangmi Vashum, Khan Thang Paite and Kalu Ogba.
Mohammedan, soon after resumption, reduced the margin to keep their hopes alive of a comeback when Mike Okoro scored in the 52nd minute off a pass from Satyajit Bose. But Churchill Bros hit back strongly, scoring three goals to snuff off any challenge of Mohammedan Sporting comeback.
Okolie played a pass to Felix Chimaokwu who beat rushing keeper and shot the ball into the open net in the 61st minute. Khan Thang Paite then increased the margin two minutes later when he found the net with a left footer, which hit the post before finding the net off a pass from Felix.Okolie then scored his second goal in 84th minute, his 26th goal of tournament to earn Rs 50,000 for highest scorer. Thokchom Naoba Singh than rounded off the tally with a firm right footer in the 87th minute.
Courtesy: navhindtimes
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