Lagos double strike gives Churchill first win AFC Cup

Cristhian Lagos struck twice as Churchill Brothers drubbed New Radiant of Maldives 3-0 to secure their first win in the AFC Cup here today.
Lagos scored in the 31st and 75th minutes while Anthony Wolfe got the other goal in the 52nd minute in the Group E league match at Nehru Stadium at Fatorda here.
With today's win, Churchill, who lost to Persipura Jayapura of Indonesia in their opening encounter, opened their account with three points from two matches.
New Radiant, who had beaten Home United of Singapore, remained on three points from two outings.
Churchill Brothers were determined today to put it across New Radiant and started brightly by moving the ball on the flanks well with the Costa Rica striker Lagos and Trinidad and Tobago's Anthony Wolfe combining well upfront.

The duo caused all sorts of trouble for the rival defenders, creating half a dozen chances in the first half but Wolfe missed two close chances with only keeper to beat.

Lagos had an early chance but saw his header going over the bar off a Raju Yumnam cross. He, however, put his team 1-0 up in the 31st minute.
A move on the right saw Satish Singh sending a low cross into the box for Wolfe to chest the ball down to Lagos who uncorked a firm grounder to find the back of the net.
Churchill Brothers, who controlled the midfield with Lenny Rodrigues along with Shabana and Anthony Pereira, kept their striker busy, and could have won a bigger margin had Wolfe been able to convert the chances that came his way.

The visitors, who were at the receiving end for major part of the first half, could not produce any threat to Churchill keeper Arindam Bhattacharya.
Churchill Brothers continued to dictate terms in the second half and Wolfe made amends of his first half misses by scoring in the 52nd minute off a throw-in from the right.
Lagos than capatalised on the weak defence of New Radiant and put the match beyond the reach of the visitors when he scored his second goal of the match after Abdel Shabana's shot was blocked by rival keeper and rebounded.