Goan clubs Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar were locked in a 1-1 draw in an I-League fixture, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here on Thursday.
Darryl Duffy put Salgaocar in front in the 27th minute. Sporting equalised through Marcus Mascarenhas in the 77th.
With the draw, Salgaocar remained at the bottom of the nine-team league with just two points after six matches. They are still without a win after six matches.
Sporting moved up a place to the fifth spot with eight points after six matches.
Sporting made the early noises with their star striker Odafa Okolie at the fulcrum of their attacks.
He missed a good chance to put his team ahead in the 19th minute. Nicholas Fernandes, with a beautiful ball from the left flank, found Odafa’s surging run into the box, but the Nigerian headed it straight at goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.
Salgaocar scored against the run of play through striker Darryl Duffy.
Jackichand Singh’s corner found Augustin Fernandes at the edge of the box, who looped it towards Duffy on the goal line and nicked it in.
Salgaocar went into the break preserving the 1-0 goal lead.
Odafa remained the most prominent threat for Salgaocar after the breather. He did well to cross the ball from the left in the 53rd minute, setting up Seriton Fernandes for a header. But Fernandes nodded it into the ground and the ball sailed over the bar.
Sporting’s influence faded after that initial burst in the second half with their midfielders failing to feed Odafa.
The pace of the game also dropped as Sporting were unable to break through and Salgaocar were content to protect their lead.
But they roared back into the contest with Marcus Mascarenhas’ 77th minute equaliser.
A long ball over the top found Odafa, who turned from his marker in the box to shoot at goal. Karanjit palmed the effort to Marcus, who gleefully scored the rebound.
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