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Super Cup 2018 kicked off today at the Kalinga Sports Complex in Bhubaneshwar as Delhi Dynamos took on Churchill Brothers in the first qualification match.
The match was a historic one as it was the first time when teams from the two leagues in Indian football faced off in an official competition.
Churchill Brothers went into the match to redeem their faltering season after they were relegated from the I-League this season. Their opponents Delhi Dynamos too had a poor season that saw them finish on the eight position in the Indian Super League standings. Delhi, however, were in good form in their recent matches in the ISL and came with good momentum into the clash against the Goan side.
The match ended 1-1 at the end of regulation time as Churchill Brothers recovered well from an early Kalu Uche strike in the first half. Willis Plaza equalized for the Goans with a well-taken goal. Churchill Brothers defended well to keep the Delhi attacks out and were rewarded for their persistence when Willis Plaza scored in the second half of the extra time to clinch the match for the I-League side.
#1 Kalu Uche strikes early in the match with a stunner
The Delhi skipper who was in supreme form in the ISL with 13 goals from fifteen matches continued his scoring streak when he scored the opening goal for the Delhi Dynamos in the sixth minute of the match.
Uche received the ball outside the box from Nandhakumar Sekar, who came in from the left side of the midfield. The Nigerian Uche took a touch and let go a rising effort into the left top corner of the ball. The Churchill custodian Ricardo Cardozo had no chance of saving that powerful effort as Delhi established authority in the game early on.
#2 Delhi dominated possession in the middle of the park
Delhi Dynamos asserted their control in the first half of the match with their usual ball possession game as they did not allow Churchill any openings in the middle of the park. They passed the ball around with ease establishing control over the game from the get-go.
Matias Mirabaje and Paulinho Dias orchestrated the midfield from the centre as even the centre-backs showed their comfort on the ball. Delhi managed a 61% possession share in the first half of the match as Churchill Brothers sat back to defend in their own half but slowly looked dangerous on the counter as the game progressed gradually.
#3 Willis Plaza got the equalizer for Churchill Brothers
The former East Bengal and Trinidadian international restored parity in the match as he scored from inside the box for the Goan side finishing off a great move started by Nicholas Fernandes.
Nicholas Fernandes made a good run on the wing and put in a great cross into the box from the left flank that was controlled well by Plaza as he got between the defenders and slotted past Xabier Irureta in the Delhi goal as he made it 1-1. Plaza did well with his run and used his physicality well to fend off Mohammed Dhot, who was marking him to open up space to finish off the chance.
#4 Plaza missed a sitter in the second half
After the first half that saw Delhi dominate for most of the period, Churchill Brothers got back into the match showing good fighting spirit in the second half. They played fearless football in the second half not allowing Delhi to play their usual controlling game in the middle.
The Churchill Brothers tested the Delhi keeper on a couple of occasions attacking during the counter as Plaza and Fernandes used their place well to make good runs.
Willis Plaza had a golden opportunity to grab the lead for Churchill during the match when he was found inside the box with a great lobbed cross by Ceesay from the left side. Plaza caught Xabi off guard in the goal but headed the ball wide off the mark.
#5 East Bengal reject Willis Plaza wins it for Churchill
Willis Plaza was the man in the thick of things again for Churchill Brothers as he made their continued persistence count in the end.
A long ball from the Churchill defence saw Plaza get between Edu Moya and Mohammed Dhot as their indecisiveness allowed the striker to capitalize. He controlled the ball with a great touch and beat Xabier Irureta with a calm finish making it 2-1 on the evening for the I-League side.
Churchill Brothers held on to the lead in the final minutes of the match and ensured their passage to the Round of 16 of the Super Cup. The Goan side showed a gritty display against Delhi Dynamos and truly deserved the win today.
