Churchill, Bagan split points

Churchill got their equaliser in the 37th minute after Ghanian striker Philip Mensah beat the off-side trap and passed to an unmarked Cyril Barreto on the right. Even as the Bagan goalkeeper Hemant Dora charged out, Barreto8217;s shot evaded him and entered the net.

The Churchill equaliser would have had little meaning if Okerie had converted an open chance earlier. However, the Nigerian, not quite in form, continues to search for his first goal of this edition of the National League.

The game was mainly confined to the mid-field with Churchill surprisingly performing better than their opponents in this region. The Goan team played with short passes in the second half and held possession longer than Bagan.

The defending champions were just not able to get their act right today. Although Yonnan Basim, coming as a second half substitute, managed to get the advantage of speed, another substitution almost nullified this move. Badabo, who came in for Satyajit Chatterjee, was woefully out of shape. The Bagan mid-field was, in fact, a disoriented unit after the African came in.

The Churchill camp too made a substitution with Mahesh Singh, coming out of an injury, replacing Cyril Barreto in the mid-field. Singh was clearly told to act as a defensive shield, thus slowing down the game. Churchill succeeded in their intentions of holding on for a draw even as a desperate yet lacklustre Bagan dropped points at home.