I-League: Mumbai FC rallies to hold Salgaocar

The draw takes Salgaocar FC’s tally to nine points from 11 matches. With its third successive draw, Mumbai FC is on 12 points from 11 matches.

Salgaocar FC celebrates its first goal.

Mumbai FC converted two penalties as it rallied to hold Salgaocar FC to a 2-2 draw in a 11th round I-League football match at Tilak Stadium here today.

The draw takes Salgaocar FC’s tally to nine points from 11 matches. With its third successive draw, Mumbai FC is on 12 points from 11 matches.

The match was fought evenly as the teams tried to gauge each other’s strength in the first few minutes, which saw play confined mostly to the midfield.

Salgaocar broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Jackichand Singh held on to a Reagan Singh lob from the left and let go a volley that found the far corner of the net.

Mumbai FC then played attackingly, looking for the equaliser and earned a penalty after Reagan Singh brought down Sushil Kumar Singh inside the box. Sushil himself converted it to have both the teams 1-1 at half time.

Salgaocar once again took the lead in the 48th minute when substitute Brian Mascrenhas, running down the left flank, shot one that went past keeper Pawan Kumar.

Stunned by the goal, the visitor went in search of an equaliser and mounted pressure on the home team. Brian Mascarenhas twice made a goal line save off Pratik’s shot.

However, the visitor was once again awarded a penalty after Ryuki Kozawa’s shot hit a rival defender’s hands. Kozawa converted it to equalise again.