Vasco: Churchill Brothers Sports Club took a giant step towards regaining the I-League title after scoring a 2-1 victory over Pune FC in a 23rd round I-League clash at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Friday.
After a barren session where the teams hardly the other an inch, Bineesh Balan and Sunil Chhetri struck majestically to give Churchill Brothers a five-point lead at the top of the table with just four matches left to be played. Pune FC, also nursing title ambitions, were left to ponder on their defensive frailties as both goals they conceded stemmed from mistakes at the back.
Substitute Boima Karpeh pulled on back for Pune FC.
Both teams were understandably nervous at the start and played extremely safe. It were the hosts, though, who created the better chances as Henri Arnaud, in the tenth minute, laid a ball for Afghanistan striker Balal Arezou who could not guide it into the goal.
Sunil Chhetri then drilled a low ball through for Henri but the Gabonese striker delayed, allowing a rival defender to dispossess him.
Pune FC did not have any clear chances in the first session with James Moga left stranded.
In the second session, Churchill took the lead. Much of the blame should be shouldered by goalkeeper Shahinlal Meloly whose poor goalkick saw Henri trap the ball and lay it for substitute Bineesh Balan who showed remarkable poise to finish from a narrow angle in the 57th minute.
Churchill made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute when another defensive mistake allowed Chhetri the space to curl a brilliant left footer into the top corner of the net.
It could have been all over for Pune FC almost immediately but the goalkeeper redeemed himself with two quick saves to deny Chhetri and Balal.
Towards the end, Churchill pressed more men forward but the Churchill defence stood its ground. It was not until added time that Boima Karpeh pulled one back for Pune FC, providing for a nervy five minutes in the end.