Troubled Churchill hold Bagan

Odafes brace spares Goan team the blushes

 
The Nigerian striker, who was arrested with two others on charges of molestation on board his flight to Kolkata, scored twice to negate the two-goal effort of Jose Ramirez Barreto of Mohun Bagan and walk away with the Man of the Match award.

Odafe bounced back from the controversial episode to win the lead for Churchill in the eighth minute before Barreto's strikes in the 35th and 49th minutes put Bagan ahead. Odafe, however, found the net again in the 69th minute to score the equaliser.

Odafe gave Churchill the lead when the Nigerian headed one from a Dan Ito free-kick. Barreto eventually found the equaliser from a Marcos Pereira centre to bring the match on an even keel.

In the 44th minute, a move from L Dhanachandra Singh found Chidi in the bargain but the Nigerian missed an open net with Churchill custodian Arindam out of place.

Mohun Bagan snatched the lead after the break when Barreto scored his second, converting a penalty in the 49th minute. Arindam had fouled Bagan’s Japan recruit Sueoka Ryuji in an open tackle inside the box and referee S Suresh did not hesitate to award a penalty in favour of the local side. Barreto did not make any mistake to help their side take the lead. But the Goans did not give up and earned the equaliser with a brilliant free-kick conversion from Odafe in the 69th minute.

Meanwhile, in another I League match Mumbai FC ran out 2-1 winners over Salgaocar.
Salgaocar’s Gurpreet Singh put the ball into his own net to gift Mumbai the lead in the 2nd minute. Mandjou Keita equalised for the Goans at the hour mark before Kayne Vincent came off the bench to slot in the winner for Mumbai six minutes from full time.