Churchill Brothers rallied from a goal in arrears to hold Sporting Clube de Goa to a 1-1 draw in a 11th ONGC National Football League match at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Wednesday.
Striker Dudu Omagbemi put Sporting Clube ahead in the 41st minute, while Odafe Onyeka Okolie restored parity for Churchill in the 78th.
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Sporting Clube De Goa are in fifth place with 13 points from 10 matches, while Churchill, who drew their sixth match, are sixth on the league table with 12 points.
Churchill's defender Nicholas Muyoti was named Man of the Match.
Both the teams played at fast pace, fought hard, giving nothing away. Dudu Omagbemi, Sporting Clube de Goa's main striker, did pose threat to the rival defence with his skillful play, but was guilty of holding the ball too much and dispossessed by the Churchill defence.
However, he managed to get the better of his marker in the 41st minute and earned a penalty for his team after he was tripped from behind by defender Robert Lalthlamvana.
Dudu converted the penalty even as 'keeper Vinay Singh dived to his right and got his hand to the ball but could not prevent it from entering the net.
Earlier, Churchill had the best chance to forge ahead in the 30th minute but Bungo Singh, who was set up by George Ekeh inside the box, saw his stiff grounder missing the target narrowly.
Ten minutes later, Noaba Singh's powerful shot from 40 yards was blocked by Sporting's keeper Luis Barreto.
Churchill Brothers, who looked more forceful in the second-half found the equaliser in the 57th minute. Odafe Onyeka Okolie, accepting a pass from George Ekeh outside the box, controlled the ball and essayed a powerful right footer that beat 'keeper Luis Barreto all ends up and found the net.
Referee P K Bose showed yellow cards to Churchill Brothers' Robert Lalthlamvana, Bungo Singh and Sporting Clube's Rajesh Meetei.
Odafe Okolie had a glorious chance to score the match-winner in the 78th minute for Churchill Bros when he hoodwinked couple of rival defenders inside the box, sprinted down and essayed a right footer, but his shot was blocked by 'keeper Luis Barretto with his feet.
