Goa Khabar : FC Goa turned patience into precision as two second-half strikes sealed a 2-0 victory over Churchill Brothers FC in a contest that demanded composure before delivering control.
The opening exchanges were cagey but competitive. Churchill Brothers showed early intent in the 15th minute when Kavya Katkar forced a firm save from Gairik Roy with a driven effort that tested the FC Goa defence. The Gaurs responded by tightening their grip on possession moving the ball confidently through midfield and probing for gaps, but clear chances were scarce as Churchill remained compact and organised.
The first half became a battle of discipline and structure rather than risk. Asher Rodrigues and Scott Fernandes both entered the referee’s book as the physical edge of the contest grew, but neither side found the cutting edge required to break the deadlock. At the interval, the scoreboard reflected the balance of play, goalless but finely poised.
The second half changed the rhythm of the game. Churchill threatened first after the restart only for Lionel Rymmei to produce a composed stop that kept FC Goa level. Moments later the Gaurs struck back with intent when Jovial Dias unleashed a powerful effort that thundered off the post. That pressure finally told in the 68th minute. Ruel Goes collected the ball wide and unleashed a low strike from distance that slipped inside the post breaking the resistance and giving FC Goa the lead.
With Churchill forced to open up space began to appear and FC Goa exploited it clinically. In the 79th minute Sangam Shetye stepped up with a composed long-range finish driving the ball into the net to double the advantage and effectively seal the contest. Shawn Fernandes nearly added a third in stoppage time flashing an effort just over the bar, but the damage had already been done. FC Goa closed out the match with authority managing the final minutes with maturity and control to secure a deserved 2-0 win.
