GOA: Salgaocar FC and DSK Shivajians played out a high-octane draw at the Maidan in Vasco, on Friday. Haroon Amiri put the visitors ahead in the 25th minute while Salgaocar got back immediately five minutes later.
Both sides played out a goal-less second half to share the spoils. Salgaocar FC welcomed back Darryl Duffy to the side after a short spell out with injury for Thongkhosiem Haokip, while Clifton Dias made way for Saran Singh.
Derrick Periera resorted to making no changes from the starting eleven that demolished Sporting Clube de Goa in their previous game before the international break.
The visitors started the game on the front foot, but Salgaocar FC had the first sight of goal through Gilbert Oliviera, who had the chance to have a crack at goal in space, but his shot from the edge of the box lacked the venom in it. Alesh Sawant found himself in an interesting position in the box in the very next minute, but could not maneuver a cross from the left from Calvin Mbarga.
DSK Shivajians, who had started the game on the front foot decided to re-introduce themselves into the game in the 23rd minute, as Baljit Sahni took a crack at goal and his shot deflected off Jackichand Singh for a corner.
The deadlock was broken just a couple of minutes after, as DSK Shivajians went ahead through Baljit Sahni. Haroon Amiri dribbled past Gurjinder Singh on the right to set up Sahni, who had to tap the ball in and he didn't squander the chance to put his team in the driving seat.
Salgaocar FC responded almost immediately, as the returning Darryl Duffy restored parity on the half-an-hour mark. Calvin Mbarga drove up the field with a powerful run to pass it to Jackichand, who set up the Scottish striker up to make it 1-1.
The second-half began with both sides stepping on the accelerator in an attempt to get ahead of each other.
DSK Shivajians were awarded a free-kick in the 50th minute and Juan Quero took the responsibility of it, whose attempt was seen off by Karanjit Singh; on the counter, Jackichand took a shot at goal from distance, but his attempt lacked direction.
Sandesh Jhinghan was left unmarked in the box in the 53rd minute, but Darryl Duffy was sturdy to do away with the defender’s header. The Scot dashed onto the attack, setting up a counter-attack move and nearly headed the ball in from Brain Mascarenhas’ cross.
Karanjit Singh denied DSK to go ahead after he saved a spot-kick taken by Aser Dipanda. The Pune outfit were awarded the penalty in the 62nd minute after Lenny Pereira was found guilty of handling the ball in Salgaocar FC’s penalty area. Karanjit Singh kept his side in the game with a valiant effort.
Five minutes later, Salgaocar FC had a goal denied. Darryl Duffy netted a cross released by Lenny Pereira, but the flag was raised against Mbarga who attempted to play the ball from an offside position.
The remainder of the game was played out in pedestrian pace with both sides succumbing to the wrath of the afternoon heat. Salgaocar FC however, looked the potent side heading into the final part of the game but could not stitch anything in concrete.
At the blow of the referee’s final whistle, the scoreline read 1-1. The two sides played out a well-contested draw with one point being the ideal result.
