Pailan Arrows hold Salgaocar
TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MARGAO:  Salgaocar FC had to settle for a goalless draw against Pailan Arrows in a third round I-League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Sunday.
Looking for their first win in this year’s competition, Salgaocar started strongly and deserved to take full points but poor finishing meant the home side had to take only a point.
Salgaocar are now without a win after three matches while Pailan Arrows, after a two-match win streak, dropped points for the first time.
Coach Peter Valles made no significant changes to the team that he inherited from Karim Bencherifa but the hosts could not make  significant progress throughout the 90-minute duel.
Salgaocar started upfront with Phillipines striker Agnelo Guirado and Francis  Fernandes. They created the first chance  in the 6th minute when Guirado essayed a fine cross to Nicolao Colaco who found Francis Fernandes free inside the box, but the latter  was thwarted by defender Prabir Das.
In the 18th minute, Francis Fernandes headed out from close.
Salgaocar were unlucky not to forge ahead  in the 21st minute. Randeep Singh sped down the middle and unleashed a right footer which bounced off the crossbar.
Pailan Arrows exerted pressure and in the 31st minute striker Allwyn George was dispossessed by Rahul Kumar.
Salgaocar had another chance in the 41st minute but Francis Fernandes saw his try hitting the post.
Salgaocar could have won the match in the 83rd when Pailan’s D Ganesh failed to clear the ball and Jacobs, without wasting time relayed it to Milagres Gonsalves, who with only the rival goalkeeper at his mercy shot wide.
Thereafter, Milagres fumbled again and Roney’s header off Jacobs’ flag kick kissed the bar.
The man-of-the-match award went to Pailan Arrows’s Deepak Devram.
With this win, Pailan Arrows collected seven points from three matches while Salgaocar stay on two points from the same number of encounters.
“Missed opportunities and the crossbar did not give us three points. I have nothing to worry as my boys indeed gave their best,”  said Peter Valles.
Pailan Arrows coach Arthur Papas was pleased with the performance of his boys. “I believe in my boys and we will always play for a win and not indulge in defensive  football. Salgaocar is a big team, so snatching a point from them is very encouraging,” concluded Papas.