KOLKATA: TRAU’s Tajik recruit Komron Tursunov made history by scoring the fastest goal ever of the Hero I-League in the 9th second, beating Katsumi Yusa’s 13th-second goal against Churchill Brothers in the 2018-19 season. The Tajik International’s strike, however, was cancelled out by Mason Robertson’s 70th-minute header as TRAU played out a 1-1 draw against Real Kashmir FC at the Mohun Bagan ground on Sunday.
TRAU’s new signing took 9 seconds to give them the lead after his venomous curling effort from outside of the box found the back of the net, leaving the opposition in utter disbelief. The sheer suddenness of the goal left Real Kashmir FC in disarray as TRAU dominated the opening exchanges, trying to extend their lead. Real Kashmir fought back and in the 22nd minute, Mason Robertson’s effort from a freekick came close to grabbing the equalizer.
In the 70th minute, Mason Robertson found the equalizer for Real Kashmir after his thumping header off a Ralte freekick found the back of the net. The equalizer spurred the Snow Leopards as they searched to take the lead but to no avail.
AIFF’s developmental side Indian Arrows went down fighting 2-5 against Churchill Brothers FC Goa at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium on Sunday. Clayvin Bernardez’s hattrick and Luka Majcen’s brace led Churchill Brothers to a hard-fought win over the Arrows in a see-saw match that tested the grit of the Goan club.
Churchill Brothers got right into the thick of the action and took the lead in the second minute itself. Luka Majcen’s header found the back of the net after a strong shot ricocheted off the crossbar and fell his way. The early setback, however, did not deter the young Arrows.
Showing extraordinary grit, AIFF’s developmental side got back into the game, playing free-flowing attacking football. Their attacking prowess bore fruit in the ninth minute when Vanlalruatfela’s attempt from inside the box from a delicious cross found him, crashed against the net to equalise the proceedings.
In the 21st minute, Gurkirat Singh was brought down inside the box and the forward scored from the spot-kick to give Arrows the lead. With Indian Arrows scoring two goals in the space of 15 minutes, Churchill tried to soak up the pressure by playing a deep backline.
The speed of Vanlalruatfela and Gurkirat up front proved to be a handful for the opposition defenders. However, the Arrows’ attacking spell was crushed in the 35th minute when Clayvin Bernardez headed home after a cross from the left flank found him inside the box.
Churchill Brothers started to batter the Indian Arrows defence, and they formulated their game-plan from the opening of the second half. Luka and Bernardez’s physical prowess gave the young Arrows defenders problems.
In the 59th minute, the pairing combined and Bernardez’s powerful shot from the edge of the box left the Arrows custodian stunned as Churchill once again took the lead. In a see-saw match, the Goan outfit looked to cement their win by extending their lead. And in the 69th minute, Bernardez found the back of the net once again, this time, via a thumping header off a corner kick, to double Churchill’s lead. Churchill Brothers put the tie to rest in the 75th minute when Luka’s header from a free-kick crashed into the back of the Arrows’ net as the Goan outfit took a three-goal lead. The full-time score read 5-2 in Churchill’s favour. AIFF Media
