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Churchill Brothers' Nigerian goal-machine Odafe Onyeka Okolie was on target in the summit clash too as the Goan outfit edged past Mahindra United 1-0 in the final to win their maiden Durand Cup football title in Delhi on Wednesday.
The title clash of Asia's oldest football tournament, in its 120th edition, never really rose to great heights, but Churchill Brothers were clearly the better team on show at the floodlit Ambedkar Stadium.
Mahindra United had scored only one goal in three matches in the tournament and their poor form in that department showed badly in the final too as their forwards lacked the touch that could pose any threat to the Churchill defence.
Churchill skipper Odafe, who had scored 10 goals in the tournament coming into the final, lived up to his billing on the big day and proved the difference between the two teams. He was later declared winner of golden boot.
However, there was nothing much for the crowd to cheer about as Odafe's strike in the 11th minute was the only goal to savour.
Churchill forwards Iyomi and Okolie made repeated forays into the Mahindra half, and one of those attacks saw Odafe latch on to a pass from Bernardo Pires and fire the ball from just inside the box past a hapless Mahindra custodian Sandeep Nandy.