AFC Cup: Churchill Brothers 1-1 Persipura Jayapura - Vital point for the Red Machines

Balwant Singh scores the equaliserPhoto Credit: Churchill Brothers

Churchill Brothers 1 (Balwant 84)

Persipura Jayapura 1 (Solossa 77)

Churchill Brothers: Lalit Thapa; Denzil Franco, Sanjay Balmuchu, Naveen Kumar, Daniel Zeleny; Warren Rebello (Lenny Rodrigues 54), Abdelhamid Shabana, Asley Fernandes, Jaison Vales (Anthony Pereira 90+2); Balwant Singh, Anthony Wolfe

Persipura Jayapura: Yoo Jae-Hoon; Yustinus Pae, Daniel Tata, Bio Paulin, Ruben Sanadi; Gerald Pangkali (Dominggus Fakdawer 90+1), Imanuel Wanggai, Ian Kabes (Yohanes Pahabol 70), Nelson Alom; Boaz Solossa (Izzac Wanggai 85), Titus Bonai

Churchill Brothers came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Indonesian champions Persipura Jayapura in a Group E clash of the AFC Cup at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Margao, Goa on Wednesday evening.

Persipura skipper Boaz Solossa put his side ahead in the second half but Balwant Singh soon equalised to net his 15th goal in all competition this season. The result keeps Churchill’s round of 16 hopes very much in their hands as they are still second in the group and only need to match Home United’s result on matchday six.

Churchill were without their first-choice centre-back Dharmaraj Ravanan but despite being ruled out prior to the match, midfielder Lenny Rodrigues was named on the bench. The inexperienced duo of Naveen Kumar and Joshua Rebello got a start.

There were no surprises in the Persipura lineup as the experienced Titus Bonai supported lone striker Solossa.

The visitors started well with Bonai trying his luck but they could have easily conceded a penalty when Abdelhamid Shabana was brought down inside the box. The referee though didn’t award a spot-kick.

Persipura dominated possession and were winning the midfield battle but they were struggling to test Churchill custodian Lalit Thapa. At the other end, Balwant’s left-footed shot narrowly missed the target.

Thapa was finally called into action when Solossa found himself behind the Churchill backline after a pass from Bonai but the Persipura captain’s effort from close range was saved by Thapa and he also held Imanuel Wanggai’s effort from the rebound.

Suddenly it became an open game with chances at both ends as Bonai nearly got on the end of a teasing cross from the right flank while Balwant scuffed his shot after being played through by Anthony Wolfe.

The Indian club should have taken the lead though when Wolfe got past his man and played in a low cross into the box but Jaison Vales somehow fail to score two yards.

That was a big let off for Persipura and the pattern of their game didn’t change in the second half also as despite their dominance in possession, the Indonesian club failed to work Thapa. Churchill too were only limited to attempts from long range with even the introduction of Lenny not helping their cause.

Bonai should have done better with a header at the hour mark but Persipura badly needed fresh legs and their Brazilian coach Jacksen Tiagoa finally made a change as Ferinando Pahabol was introduced.

Just seven minutes after that substitution Persipura finally broke the deadlock with Pahabol heavily involved. The substitute showed great skills to run at the Churchill backline inside the box and his low cross was slotted into the back of the net by Solossa.

Churchill had to throw more bodies forward in search of the equaliser and nearly conceded again when a long ball from the back caught Thapa out of position but Solossa couldn’t control the ball properly despite going past the Churchill goalkeeper.

The home side equalised when Balwant got in behind the Persipura defence after a lovely through pass from Wolfe. Persipura’s South Korean keeper Yoo Jae-Hoon saved Balwant’s first attempt but the 27-year-old scored from the rebound.

Just a minute later, Balwant was through on goal again after a pass from Shabana but Persipura defender Daniel Tata produced a last-ditch tackle.

Persipura have qualified for the round of 16 as group winners and Churchill Brothers will join them if they win away at Maldives’ New Radiant on matchday six.

The Goan club are currently level on 7 points with Home United but they have a better head-to-head record so Mariano Dias’ side will progress to the next round as long as they match the Singapore club’s result against Persipura Jayapura.