MAPUSA: Corps of Signals held Panjim Footballers to a goalless draw in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played under floodlights at Duler Stadium, here on Monday.

Signals manager Major VS Kamble made three changes to his side which had suffered  a thumping 6-0 defeat at the hands of league leader Sporting Clube de Goa as Harshad Thube, Amit Tariyal and Paul Victor were back in the starting XI, whereas Panjim coach Savio Vaz chose to go with the same line-up which earned him a point against Dempo SC in the last round match.

After an end-to-end play in the first 15 minutes, Panjim were the first to come close to scoring when their Israeli midfielder Fady Riad sent a perfect through pass to Akeraj Martin in the box but the striker failed to reach to the ball.

Signals took another 10 minutes to create their first potent chance of the match as Pawan Thakur found Chand Singh from a corner but the defender’s header missed the target narrowly. Five minutes later, Chand was once again unlucky not to score as this time his powerful header off Roshan Singh’s corner hit the crossbar before going out for a goal-kick.

Signals had one last chance before going into the half-time when Pawan squared the ball to Harshad in the box but the winger shot wide.

Panjim regrouped at half-time and came out stronger in the second session. 

They had the best chance to find the opener in the third minute of the second session when Signals defender Paul brought down Fady just outside the box but the Israeli mideo wasted an easy chance as he shot sky-high from the 18-yard free-kick. 

Six minutes later, Akeraj’s powerful striker went just over the crossbar.

At the hour mark, Panjim had another chance when Fady fed Mahesh Kumar with a diagonal pass from the flank but his curling shot was blocked by Signals keeper Binu Purushothama, the ball travelled to striker Akeraj but the keeper Binu once again made a diving save to push the danger for a corner.  The last ten minutes saw Panjim completely dominating the match with continuous attacks over the rivals where first substitute Prasil Kankonkar’s shot was neatly saved by keeper Binu, while a few minutes later, Congo midfielder Alphonse Shako’s chip shot was nicely tipped by Binu for a corner.