New Delhi: Striker Willis Plaza’s brace helped Churchill Brothers to a 2-1 win over Delhi Dynamos in the inaugural Hero Super Cup’s first qualifier at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
The match was tied 1-1 after the regulation 90 minutes. Delhi went ahead through Nigerian forward Kalu Uche (6th) but Churchill bounced back through their Trinidad and Tobago striker’s brace in the 35th and 106th minutes.
Churchill progress to the round of 16, where they face Mohun Bagan on April 1.
ATK, Chennai aim at fresh start
ATK will look to start afresh when they take on Chennai City FC in a qualifying round match on Friday.
Two-time ISL champions ATK finished ninth in the 10-team league this year, picking up just four wins out of 18 matches, losing times. Chennai finished eighth out of 10 teams in the I-League.
“Chennai City FC have shown their capability on the field and we have to be very cautious. Otherwise, we might have to bow out of the tournament on the first day itself,” ATK assistant coach Bastab Ray said.
Mohammed Akbar, Chennai’s newly-appointed head coach, asked his team to make a new beginning.“It would be wrong to contemplate tomorrow’s result from the I-League’s outcome. Everyone will start from scratch and we have the potential to swing the result in our way. It’s a new challenge and we’re ready for it,” Akbar said.
In Friday’s other qualifier, Indian Arrows face Mumbai City FC. The Arrows, comprising players of India’s U-19 team and U-17 World Cup side, finished bottom of the I-League while Mumbai were seventh in the ISL.
