SPORTS

Yakubu nets three in Churchill's big win

Source:PTI
March 05, 2004 20:37 IST

Churchill Brothers scored twice in each half to easily beat bottom-placed Indian Bank 4-1 in an eighth National Football League match at the Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Friday.

Churchill, who dominated right through, scored through Yusif Yakubu (3rd, 15th, 75th minutes) and substitute Sukhdev Arwade.

The visitors, who put up a good fight in the first half, scored through Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya (30th).

The victory swelled Churchill's points tally to 25 from 14 matches.

Indian Bank continued to languish at the bottom of the table with two points from 15 matches.

Referee V N Arvindakshan showed yellow cards to Indian Banks's Kamaldeen Fuard and Mohammed Rawme Mohideen.

Churchill opened the scoring in the third minute when Rajesh Kumar Pandey brought down Yusif Yakubu from behind inside the box and referee Arvindakshan awarded a penalty, which was converted by Yakubu himself.

The early goal put Churchill in attacking mode and Yukubu followed it up with a stunning goal in the 15th minute as he volleyed home a measured cross from Somatai Shaiza's from the left.

But the visitors did not lose heart and reduced the margin through Jayasuriya, who scored after he was set up by Fuard following an indirect free-kick from the top of the box.

Churchill Brothers inducted fresh pairs of legs after the change of ends, bringing in Ratan Singh and Arwade in place of Shaiza and Noel Wilson which gave them more teeth in their attack. The duo tormented the rival defence with a series of raids. Arwade's shot from the top of the box was well-parried by keeper Sebastian Netto. This was followed by Yakubu, who unleashed a grounder that hit the post.

After these close escapes, the bankmen's citadel again fell when Arwade's header deflected off defender Anthony Noel before finding the net.

Yakubu then rounded the tally to find the far post off a pass from Ratan Singh.

Source: PTI
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