TNN

Panaji, Apr 17: The divine moment came five minutes into the match. R Vashum ran like a hare on the right flank after getting at the right end of Felix Chima okwus inch-perfect through ball, created panic inside the Mohammedan Sporting defence and then, as he squared across the goalmouth for Odafe, the ball shot like a bolt out of the blue into the nets, thanks to defender Wasim Firoze shooting into his own goal.

A minute and a few seconds later, Odafe Okolie picked the top corner of the nets with a curl that demonstrated why almost everyone wanted a slice of the Nigerian talisman.

Two goals inside seven minutes. Dream start. Match over, well almost. Surely, this was Churchills day.

After four runners-up finishes, and almost 12 years of agony, Churchill Brothers broke their National football league title duck with a 6-2 demolition of Mohammedan Sporting at the Nehru stadium in Fatorda.

Once Churchill had taken the 2-0 lead early in the game, youd had to be delusional to believe that the I-League title was still out of their reach.

Yet, when Mike Okoro leapt high enough to nod Mohammedan back into the match, a few minutes on resumption of the second session, you could see plenty of tensed faces around.

Suddenly, history threatened to catch-up. Even the generally unflappable Ogba Kalu fluffed his role in the centre of midfield, R Vashum started playing the ball square and Odafe cut a forlorn figure up front.

The alarm bells lasted nine minutes before Felix exchanged a delightful pass with Odafe, avoided onrushing goalkeeper Manas Barua and found the roof of the net for his 12th goal of the competition.

Churchill were 3-1 ahead and even though there was still half an hours play left, the entire Churchill clan that packed the VIP gallery of the Fatorda stadium watched the remainder of the match with folded arms.

Between those muted but obvious celebrations and the final whistle, Odafe scored his 49th goal of the season - the highest since Mohun Bagan legend Keshto Pals tally of 48 goals in 1956 before Khentang Paite and Naoba Singh joined the party.