Churchill Brothers rode Okolie Odafa's five-goal burst to rout New Delhi-based AIFF XI 6-0 in their seventh round I-League match at Margao on Monday. This is the highest margin of win in the I-League so far and the second time Odafa has scored five goals or more in top-flight football.
In the 2008-09 season, Odafa had scored six goals in Churchill Brothers' 9-1 victory against Vasco. India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia had scored five in JCT's 6-1 victory against Mahindra United in the 1996-97 season.
Odafa, who was last I-League's top scorer with 22 goals, has 15 goals from seven matches this time.
In Bangalore, Luciano Sabrosa's early goal helped Salgaocar beat HAL 1-0. In Kolkata, Chirag United fluffed opportunities galore to gift a point to JCT after a goalless draw. The sub-par performance would not have done much good to Chirag United's morale either, especially since they play a revitalised Mohun Bagan on Sunday.
Chirag United striker Josimar Martins, who had scored the last-gasp equalizer against Dempo in Chirag's last match, was at sea when it came to converting, though midfielder Lalkamal Bhowmick did enough to keep him interested at the goalmouth.