In a one-sided affair, Churchill Brothers thrashed Viva Kerala 5-0 in the seventh round of the ONGC I-League football championship at Nehru Stadium in Margao on Sunday.
Churchill Brothers, who led 1-0 at half-time, scored through Mboyo Iyomi (12th, 73rd minute), Robert Lalthlamvana (61st) and Odafe Onyeka Okolie (65th and injury time).
The local outfit, who dominated throughout the match, could have won by a bigger margin had it not been for rival keeper M V Nelson who brought off several smart saves.
With the win, Churchill Brothers have collected 13 points from seven matches, while Viva Kerala, who suffered their second defeat, remained on nine points.
Iyomi, who tore the rival defence apart along with Okolie, was declared Man of the Match.
Churchill Brothers played an attacking game from the word go, forcing their opponent on the backfoot.
Iyomi put Churchill in the lead in the 12th minute when he headed in a flag kick taken by Ogba Kalu Nnanna from the right.
The Okolie-Iyomi combination proved too hot for the rival defenders to handle and keeper Nelson had to come to his team's rescue when he brought off a couple of smart saves off the duo to deny further goals in the first half.
Viva Kerala, who were defending their citadel in the first half, had a chance to score but A Adama directed his shot out from close off a long lob from Tabia Othalo.
Churchil Brothers, who used their flanks well, continued to pile up the pressure in the second half and increased the lead in the 61st minute through Robert.
Okolie, who missed a couple of chances, made amends, when he slammed home a low cross from Iyomi from the right in the 65th minute.
Mboyo Iyomi swelled the lead in the 73rd minute when he got the better of keeper Nelson after controlling the ball off a long lob from Thokchom Naoba Sing from the right to score his brace.
Okolie then scored the fifth goal against Viva Kerala in the injury time to give Churchill their biggest win so far in the tournament.
Referee Pradeep Kumar showed yellow cards to Viva Kerala's I Khelemba Singh, Tutu George and Churchill Brothers' Gouramangi Moirangthem.
