MARGAO: Salgaocar Football Club came from behind to hold Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club to a 1-1 draw and become the second Goan team to qualify for the semi-final from Group A quarter-finals league in 127th Durand Cup football tournament, at panchayat ground, Raia, Monday. All the goals came in the opening sessions.
After N D Opera put Tuff Laxmi Prasad in the lead in the 28th minute, Douhou Peirre restored parity for Salgaocar FC in the 44th minute.
The Greens only needed a draw to top the group and collected four points from two matches to make it into the next stage of the tournament.
Indian Navy and Tuff Laxmi who finished with three and one points each respectively are out of contention.
The teams displayed attacking brand of soccer and know each other style of football skills and began in right earnest and Salgaocar created early chance in the fifth minute when hardworking midfielder Gilbert Olveira unleashed a snap shot which was well collected by rival goalkeeper.
Thereafter Saalgaocar should have gone up ahead but Darryl Duffy and Thangjam Singh blew away easy chances with only rival goalkeeper at their mercy Jason D’Mello.
Tuff Laxmi broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when N D Opera headed the ball into the net off a flag-kick taken by Siddarth Kundaikar from the left.
Salgaocar FC attacked with renewed vigour in search of equalizer which eventually did come when Ivory Coast striker Douhou Peirre unleashed a right-footer which crashed into the net, 1-1.
Salgaocar knowing a draw is enough to qualify for the semi-finals slacken the pace and allowed their rivals to lunch barrage of attacks and nearly found the success but defender Augustine Fernandes at nick of time affected a goal line save to deny rival striker Marcus Mascarenhas.
Thereafter, Salgaocar came with couple of swift moves and nearly scored the winner but rival keeper Jason D’Mello did well to put the ball out to safety off substitute Aslon Oliveira grounder and latter Augustine moved up failed to tap the ball in with no one to challenge him off a cross from Thangjam Saran Singh from the right.
