Churchill Brothers had barely settled into the Indian Super League before facing one of the competition’s established teams.
The Goan club had approximately three and a half weeks to prepare for its return to India’s top football division. Preparations were hurried, the squad was still taking shape, and some foreign signings arrived just days before the season kicked off.
On Sunday evening, they faced two-time ISL champions Mumbai City FC, a side with a much more settled structure. Churchill Brothers ended the night with a memorable 2-1 victory at Fatorda, thanks to goals from Gaurav Bora and Sebastian Gutierrez in their first-ever appearance in the competition.
There was little certainty that the team could accomplish enough in such a short preparation period to overcome Mumbai City’s experience. As expected, Mumbai controlled much of the first half and created the better chances. Churchill had to remain patient, maintain their defensive shape and wait for opportunities. After the break, they made those opportunities count.
FROM TAKEOVER TO TEAM SHEET IN WEEKS
Churchill Brothers’ entry into the ISL was anything but straightforward. In August, the Goan club acquired the operating company of Jamshedpur FC from Tata Steel for a token payment of Rs 100. The deal included the contracts of 12 players and two coaches. While this gave Churchill a route into the competition, they still needed to assemble and prepare a team for the upcoming season.
The acquisition meant the club did not have to build everything from the ground up. Nevertheless, preparing for their first ISL campaign became a race against time. Several foreign recruits arrived late, while others were still waiting for their visas. With the opening match approaching, the club had to bring everyone together and make them competitive.
Coach Dimitris Dimitriou understood the scale of the challenge. In nearly four weeks, Churchill completed around 37 to 38 training sessions before taking on Mumbai City, a club far more experienced in handling the demands of the ISL.
Churchill Brothers overcame their hurried preparations to secure an impressive opening result. (Photo: ISL)
Those sessions covered the usual pre-season priorities, including fitness, tactics and helping players develop an understanding of one another. However, Churchill did not have the benefit of an extended build-up before facing an opponent with significantly more experience.
Their first challenge came against a team managed by Manolo Marquez, who had previously coached FC Goa and served as head coach of the Indian national team. His extensive experience meant he was well acquainted with Indian football.
The opening half at Fatorda demonstrated the difficulty of the task. Mumbai enjoyed greater possession, created more promising chances and appeared more organised. Churchill, meanwhile, were still adjusting to the level of competition. However, they reached half-time with the score still level, giving themselves a platform to build on.
WHAT CHURCHILL'S FIRST ISL MATCH LOOKED LIKE
Dimitriou made a half-time substitution, bringing on Gaurav Bora in place of Alexandre Yeoule and opting for an entirely Indian backline. The change soon proved significant in attack as well.
In the 57th minute, Anil Gaonkar delivered a cross following a short corner, allowing Bora to score with a header. The goal was Churchill Brothers’ first in ISL history and gave them the lead after Mumbai had looked more comfortable during the opening half.
Churchill came close to extending their advantage shortly afterwards when Wayde Lekay struck the crossbar with a long-range attempt. Mumbai reacted by making three substitutions at once, but the hosts had established themselves in the contest. Instead of merely defending against Mumbai’s attacks, they were now creating opportunities of their own.
The Indian Super League highlighted the emotional side of football following Churchill’s historic victory, noting that the sport often produces inexplicable moments, last-minute drama and hope against the odds. As the club celebrated its first ISL win, one moment stood out without needing any explanation.
Dimitriou said his team had initially focused on understanding Mumbai’s approach before making tactical changes.
“We wanted to see how the opponent plays,” he said. “But later, when we wanted to play our game, and with some changes that we made tactically, we won the game.”
Churchill scored their second goal in the 86th minute. Stendley Fernandes, who had replaced Trijoy Dias, combined with Sebastian Gutierrez, who finished from inside the penalty area to make it 2-0. The substitutes played a crucial role in the outcome, with Bora’s introduction also leading to the opening goal.
Bora dedicated his goal and the victory to the club’s supporters, saying it was “for the badge” and “for the people”.
Mumbai made the closing stages tense after earning a penalty deep into stoppage time. The spot-kick was awarded when Angu fouled Akash Mishra, and Sergio Llamas converted to reduce the deficit. However, Churchill held on to secure a 2-1 victory.
“I am very happy because the boys deserved this win,” Dimitriou said.
THE WORK NOW HAS TO CONTINUE
Churchill have cleared their first major hurdle. They have returned to the ISL and, more importantly, earned three points in their debut match.
However, one game cannot determine how the club will perform throughout the season. The bigger challenge will come as fixtures accumulate and the demands of the competition leave less time for recovery and tactical adjustments.
Their next match is against defending champions East Bengal FC at Fatorda on Sunday, October 18. It will be another difficult test and an opportunity to assess how quickly Churchill are adapting to the challenges of the ISL.
For the moment, the team can return to training with three points secured and a victory to build upon. That is a much stronger starting point than a defeat that would have left them looking for answers.
