IFA Shield: Churchill Brothers Retain Title

Churchill Brothers on Thursday successfully retained the IFA Shield beating local favorites Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the final played at Yuva Bharati Kirangan, Salt Lake. Mohun Bagan thus lost the chance to mark the centenary year on a high note by losing the shield in 2011. They won the IFA Shield in 1911, the first by any Indian club.

Though it was Bagan who drew the first blood in the 37^th minute through Chidi Edeh, the Goan sides regroup strongly in the second half with Captain Odafa Okolie leading from the front and scoring the equalizer in the 49^th minute. In the 66^th minute, a long ranger from the Manipuri winger Charan Rai found the back of Bagan’s net to seal their faith.

Starting of the proceeding well, The Green and Maroon brigade were all out to win the match and the Shield. The skipper-Chidi Edeh could have given the Kolkata Giants the lead in the 23 minute when his left footer missed the far post by a whisker. Within few minutes Churchill survives another scare when Gouranga Dutta missed a Golden opportunity.

However Chidi rose to occasion in the 37^th minute and gave the local team and the crowd a reason to cheer. Churchill went into the break trailing 0-1.

Just four minutes into the second half, The Goan Giants pulled back through a unchallenged header by Odafa Okolie from a flag kick by Raju. With Churchill going strong after the goal, Bagan found it tough to regain foothold. Ashim Biswas playing in for Jose Bareto failed to step into the latter’s role which resulted in the captain being left with no one to assist.

Chidi pushed hard to take another lead but was unlucky as his efforts often missed the goal. It was the Goan side who came up with the winner in the 66^th minute when Charan Rai dash the hope of the local supporters to celebrate the centenary year of IFA Shied win with a win this time.

With this lost, it means the Green and Maroons will be without any Silverware this season after losing the Federation Cup, Calcutta Football League and with no chance of winning the I-League.

In another match, the North Eastern outfit-Shillong Lajong were outplayed by Edmilson Marcques, who scored a hat-trick to inspire the local challengers Southern Samity to a third place with thumping 4-0 win.