JOIN USThe Punjab outfit were off to a shocking start, going down 0-1 to debutants Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Slub in their opening fixture, and they would look to make amends against the Goans, who kicked off their campaign with a 1-1 draw against defending champions Dempo at the same venue.
The match would also provide Churchill with an opportunity to eye a revenge after they were knocked out of the Durand Cup by the same opposition a month ago.
JCT backline were often troubled in their first match, and their forwards, too, couldn’t do much against a tight HASC defence. “We had some problems at the start but played much better in the second half. We had created some chances but could not score,” said JCT coach Parminder Singh. With the exception of Kareem Omolaja -- who played his heart out -- Parminder’s boys didn’t have much to show for against the Bangalore-based team.
Churchill Brothers, on the other hand, had to come through a tough opening-round match against Dempo. The former champions were down by a goal and had it not been for Okolie Odafe’s 86th minute strike, they could have lost the match.
Instead of adopting a defensive approach which they did in their first match, Churchill Brothers would do well to play their usual aggressive brand of football.
As a result of playing more men in the middle, Odafe, Churchill’s key man and the opponents’ biggest threat, often becomes ineffective.
JCT defense did an admirable job in marking Odafe when the two teams last clashed and Parminder is hoping for a similar outing on Tuesday as well.