Jesus Estrocio settled the tie with a delightful second half free kick as Sporting Clube de Goa overcame Churchill Brothers Sports Club 2-1 in the U-19 I-League at Don Bosco ground, Panjim on Tuesday. The match was locked 1-1 at the interval.

It took Churchill Brothers just 10 minutes to find their groove, when Captain Elvis Barretto led by example and fired in a spectacular free-kick from 35-yards out.

Sporting Goa took the game to Churchill Brothers and it was not long before they were back on level terms.

A crisp ball was floated into the box, which was wonderfully controlled by Lesten Martins, who laid into the path of Mauvin Borges and he blasted it into the back of the net.

On the half hour mark, Sporting Goa’s Papai Biswas threatened with a drop of the shoulder and a burst of pace, but the shot did not trouble the rival custodian.

Ten minutes into the second session, Mauvin flashed the ball across the six yard box, but none of his team mates were placed to take advantage.

Five minutes later, it was Sporting Goa’s turn to unleash their dead ball specialist. Jesus’ free kick from an acute angle found its way into the back of the net, when everybody was queuing up in the box expecting a chipped pass.

Midway through the second half Sporting Goa’s Papai ran down the flank and slid the ball into the danger area, but no one was able to capitilise and the golden chance went begging.

Churchill Brothers had a nice opportunity to equalize at the end, when Lalit Tariyal headed a free kick goal bound, but the Flaming Oranje Captain Charles Cardoz read the situation and calmly cleared off the goal line.

“We did not play well at all in the first session. The second half was a little better, but most importantly we got the three points,” stated Sporting Goa Coach Javier Cabrera.