Churchill trounces Raia Sporting by 5-2, hat-trick by Odafa

Margao, Sep 3 (UNI) A hat-trick by man-of-the-match Nigerian striker Odafa Okolie and a brace by Drupesh Desai guided former champions Churchill brothers to a 5-2 win over Raia Sporting and kept their unbeaten race intact in the GFA's Hutch Professional Football league championship match being played here today.

Churchill who have bettered their performance with every outing were outstanding and they toyed with the rivals right from the word go and drew first blood in the 27th minute through Drupesh Desai off a pass from Odafa. After some persistent raids, they once again tasted success in the 29th minute in the same fashion and Drupesh, after receiving a pass from Odafa, shot into the net to make the score 2-0.

Churchill increased their lead through Odafa off a penalty awarded to them in the 43rd minute by the refree, when Odafa was brought down by Raia's defender in the danger zone.

Odafa himself converted the kick to make it 3-0.

Raia sporting reduced the margin during the injury minute of the first half through Roque Barreto off a penalty awarded to them when Churchill goalkeeper Vinay Singh brought down Raia's Wilfred Gomes in the penalty area. Roque Barreto converted the spot kick correctly.

After leading 3-1 at the breather, Churchill continued to attack and scored the fourth goal in the 59th minute through Odafa for his side off a pass received from D Raju to make it 4-1.

Raia sporting managed to reduce the margin in the 70th minute through Roque Baretto off a penalty awarded to them when Rais's Joquim Martin was brought down by L. Robert inside the box.

4-2.

Odafa completed his hat trick in the 75th minute with a solo effort, he ran 25 yards from the left flank and after reaching the box unleashed a shot which the rival goalkeeper could not grab properely and deflected it towards Odafa, who in his second attempt neatly placed it into the net to make it 5-2 in favour of Churchill Brothers.

In another match played at Tilak ground Vasco , a second half goal by substitute Levy Coelho was enough for Velsao Pale to get the better of bottom placed Corps of Signals by 1-0 and earned full points.

After a barren first half, the all important goal for Velsao came in the 47th minute through Levy Coleho off a pass from Servino Gonsalves which ultimately turned out to be the match winner.

For the Signals, it was their fifth consecutive defeat.

At the end of the fifth round, Churchill brothers moved to the fourth 4th place with nine points, below table toppers Salgaocar Sports club, Dempo and Sporting club de Goa, all three have 10 points each from equal number of matches. Vasco were relegated to fifth place with seven points, followed by Velsao pale with six points, Raia sporting with four points and Signals at the bottom with no points to its name.

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