Fighting Churchill edge past Al Hilal

Felix Chimaokwu netted the all-important goal in the Group B fixture.
Churchill Brothers, who had beaten the same opponents 2-1 in their away match on March 24, lead the three-team group with seven points from three matches after two wins and a draw.

Churchill play Kuwait SC (two points from two matches) in their last group match on April 28. The two sides had played out a 2-2 draw here on March 16.

Al Hilal, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the group with just one point from three matches.

They had drawn 2-2 against Kuwait SC in their opening match.
Both the teams played cautiously in the first half with neither of the them showing any urgency in their attack.

Churchill failed to put up the same performance which they displayed against Kuwait SC and created few openings in the first half. But, the home side managed to score in the 42nd minute after breaching the sturdy Al Hilal defence.

Captain Odafe Okolie robbed the ball from Mohammed Saleh Yousef Salem and quickly released it for Felix Chimaokwu who raced into the box and thundered the ball into the net.

Paul’s worry

India goalkeeper Subrata Paul is worried about his nagging groin injury ahead of his trials with second division Major League Soccer (MLS) team Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Canada.

The Pune FC custodian suffered the injury during an I-League match against Mumbai FC and wants to get fit before he goes to Canada later this week for a 10-day trial.
“My injury is worrisome, can’t think of anything now. I want to get fully fit before I reach Vancouver. I don’t want to mess up a big opportunity,” Paul told IANS.

Paul hopes that Sunil Chhetri going to Kansas and his trip to Vancouver would open up opportunities for other Indian footballers.