Even with eight of their best players away from their team – preparing for the Asian Cup, and Asian Games – defending champions Churchill Brothers began their Durand Cup schedule with a hard-fought 4-2 win over 10-man Madras Engineering Group (MEG), Bangalore, in the quarterfinal league yesterday.

Churchill came out strong, scoring three quick goals, but the half ended 3-2 at the Ambedkar Stadium, and the team was grateful to pull away at the end. The team was led by the Nigerian striker, Odafe Onyeka Okolie, who scored two goals.

Read newspaper account here.