I-League: Salgaocar hold Sporting In six-goal thriller

GOA: Salgaocar Football Club and Sporting Clube de Goa played an entertaining 3-3 draw in an Airtel I-League clash at Nehru Stadium, Goa, on Tuesday.

Goals from Darryl Duffy (penalty) and Dudu Omagbemi had given Salgaocar a 2-0 lead but Sporting struck back in magnificent fashion through Ogba Kalu, Boima Karpeh and Rowlin Borges to take a 3-2 lead until substitute Bikash Jairu ensured his team got a point with a goal in the 90th minute.

The teams were tied 2-2 at the change of ends.

Knowing that only a win will keep them in the race for the coveted I-League title, Salgaocar went into the clash all guns blazing and found themselves ahead after just three minutes. The goal typically was worked out by Scottish striker Darryl Duffy, who weaved his way inside the Sporting Clube goal only to be fouled by Rojen Singh. The referee promptly pointed at the spot and Duffy himself converted the spot-kick with relative easy to draw first blood.

Soon enough, Salgaocar had their second goal. In the 11th minute, Freiman Peixoto saw an opening at the right and sent a long ball to Francis Fernandes. The Salgaocar captain made a good run and crossed the ball into the Sporting goalmouth where Dudu Omagbemi responded with a powerful header.

Two goals ahead inside the first eleven minutes and Salgaocar seemed to be in control of the match. But soon, Salgaocar took the foot of the accelerator and allowed Sporting Clube to claw their way back into the game.

Sporting Clube responded with a goal of their own in the 20th minute after Rowlin Borges picked out Ogba Kalu inside the danger zone and the Nigerian midfielder did the rest with a smart header.

Salgaocar were on level terms in the 41st minute after Boima Karpeh found the mark. The Australian striker found himself at the right end of Beevan D’Mello’s cross and tapped from inside a crowded goalmouth.

In the second session, Sporting Clube had two quick chances to take the lead for the first time. At first Karpeh could not beat the goalkeeper from a narrow angle and from the resultant corner-kick, Keenan Almeida’s header sailed inches wide of the post.

Sporting finally got the goal they were hunting for in the 73rd minute when Beevan crossed from the left for Velito D’Cruz, who laid the ball for Rowlin Borges to do the damage from close range.

It seemed Sporting Clube were headed for victory but substitute Bikash Jairu ensured that Salgaocar left the field with at least a point after he tapped home a cross from Mathew Foschini.