Raia, November 14: Sporting Clube de Goa clinched a controlled 2–1 victory over Churchill Brothers FC in their ninth Goa Professional League clash at the Panchayat Ground on Friday. An early strike from Letzamang Haokip and a second-half finish by Doyal Alves delivered the win, as Sporting combined sharp attacking play with disciplined defending to secure full points.
Sporting made a strong start, breaking through in the 4th minute when Haokip slipped past pressure on the right and fired in from close range. Churchill Brothers equalised two minutes later, as Rajender Singh’s throw-in effort from the left corner flag was mishandled and resulted in an own goal.
The visitors continued to push forward. In the 10th minute, Prince Figueiredo fired wide after a set-piece, followed by Leran Dias heading over from close range. Sporting kept Churchill under pressure through a series of corners, with Naocha Singh also sending a shot over the bar after being played in by Haokip in the 15th minute.
The breakthrough arrived again in the 64th minute. A well-constructed move saw Doyal Alves finish confidently from the left side of the box, restoring Sporting’s advantage and marking his second goal of the season. Alves nearly added another in the 82nd minute, forcing a strong save from the Churchill goalkeeper.
Sporting goalkeeper Abhimanyu Singh sealed the result with a decisive 96th-minute stop, denying Churchill Brothers a late equaliser.
