Churchill rally to hold Fransa

A late resurgence by Churchill Brothers enabled them to hold Fransa Pax to a 1-1 draw in a 10th round match in the National Football League in Margao, Goa, on Friday.

Fransa took the lead in the 50th minute through a penalty by Ambalath Sulieman.

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With this draw, Fransa took their tally to 14 points from ten matches and remain fourth on the league table. Churchill are placed 11th with six points from nine matches.

Marcos Pereira was declared Man of the match.

In a barren first half, confined mostly to the midfield, Fransa had three chances but could not convert them.

They took the lead in the 50th minute through a penalty. Hardeep Saini floated the ball from the right from a free-kick to Benjamin Ansah, whose goal bound shot from inside the box was handled by defender Usmano Hussein. Referee Chamchuk Lama pointed to the dreaded spot. Sulieman made no mistake with the kick.

The goal spurred Fransa. They made a series of moves and could have increased the lead but first Sebastiao Endro and later Joseph Ogor failed to direct their shots on target from close.

Fransa also had the misfortune of seeing Benjamin Ansah's free-kick hit the bar.

Churchill found their rhythm in the last quarter of the match as they regrouped and went all out. Ater missing two close chances they equalised in the 84th minute when Sujoy Dutta, from the right, crossed the ball to an unmarked Marcos Pereira, who nodded home from close.

Fransa nearly scored in the dying minutes but keeper Vinay Singh effected a good save, fisting over the ball after a solo effort by Louis Aniweta.