JOIN USTwo goals in the opening fifteen minutes set Churchill Brothers on their way to the final of the Federation Cup with a 2-1 win over Mohun Bagan here on Thursday.
Bagan halved the deficit through in-form striker Odafa Okolie just past the half-hour mark but Churchill, who find themselves at rock bottom in the I-League, resisted to complete their fourth win in as many outings to reach the summit clash.
The Goan side had developed a habit of scoring early – they had taken the lead early doors in two of their group outings and that is exactly what they did here when Balwant Singh scored from a set-piece as early as in the fourth minute.
Balwant as unmarked and he had the simple task of heading in Thangjam Singh’s corner past Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul. It was a dream start for Churchill and it was to get even better for them, and Balwant was again involved.
After Balwant received the ball at the edge of the ‘D’, he was felled by defender Aiborlang Khongjee just inside the box.
Anthony Wolfe placed the ball on the spot and converted with aplomb to double Churchill’s advantage in the 14th minute.
Bagan seemed to run out of ideas immediately after the second goal as Churchill started to recycle possession effectively. However, Bagan’s chief marksman Okolie got one back in the 33rd minute to lift Bagan’s spirits.
Odafa chested down Denson’s through ball before slotting it past goalkeeper Lalit Thapa in the Churchill goal.
Odafa had a chance to make it 2-2 before half-time but was denied by an alert Thapa after the Nigerian had sidestepped defender Denzil Franco.
Churchill hardly gave Bagan another chance as they smothered them brilliantly to progress into the final.