Goa Khabar : Goa Police SC secured a narrow yet vital 1–0 victory over Churchill Brothers FC in the Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium on Monday, with a second-half strike from Gauresh Desai proving decisive in a tightly contested affair.
The match began with both sides struggling to find rhythm in the final third, as early exchanges were marked by compact defending and cautious play. Churchill Brothers looked the brighter side after the restart, creating the first clear opportunity of the second half in the 52nd minute when a long-range attempt found its way straight into the safe hands of the Goa Police goalkeeper.
Goa Police slowly began asserting themselves and were rewarded for their persistence just after the hour mark. In the 64th minute, Churchill’s Clive Miranda conceded a free-kick after pushing Mayuresh Mahableshwar Naik on the edge of the box though the resulting effort sailed over the bar. Moments later, they found the breakthrough. Kunal Salgaonkar threaded a well-timed through ball to Gauresh Desai who controlled neatly inside the area and fired low past the goalkeeper to hand Goa Police a 1–0 lead.
Churchill pressed hard in the closing stages, but Goa Police remained organized and compact, closing down spaces effectively. In stoppage time, tempers flared as Churchill’s Stendly Teotonio Fernandes was booked for a late tackle on Vaibhav Naik, reflecting the growing frustration within the visiting side.
At the final whistle Goa Police emerged with three hard-earned points, their disciplined defensive effort ensuring they maintained their slender lead till the end. The result marked a strong statement from the lawmen, who continue to climb steadily in the league standings.
