MAPUSA: Salgaocar Juniors came from a goal down to hold St. Anthony’s SC, Marna-Siolim, to a 1-1 draw in a GFA’s First Division play-off match at Duler stadium, here on Saturday.
The teams, having lost their opening league matches, played aggressively in the first ten minutes of the first session. In the very first minute, a perfect cross by Marna’s Saideep Pomburphekar saw skipper Sangam Pednekar surprisingly tapping the ball into the gloves of Salgaocar’s custodian Tanesh Kankonkar.
At the other end, a 25-yard fierce grounder by Under-20 Harshad Madkaikar was brilliantly pushed for a corner by Marna’s goalkeeper Jordan Fernandes, with a full stretched diving save.
Two minutes later, Salgaocar’s Advait Sumbly sent a low cross to Aglon Abranches who tapped it wide.
In the 43rd minute, Marna stunned their opponents with a 30-yard direct free kick by Videsh Sawant which crashed into the goal leaving Salgaocar’s custodian Tanesh rooted to the ground.
On crossing over, it was Salgaocar who dominated the entire second session but were successful only once in the 75th minute, as a cross from one end of the goal by Under-20 Richard Fernandes to another end of the goal saw unmarked substitute Under-20 Aditya Talwar guide the ball into the goal.
As the match progressed, Aditya Talwar missed at least three open chances. Under-20 Michael Dias faltered twice in front of the goal.
In the added time, Renny Rodrigues’ header off a corner rebounded from the crossbar . Later, Michael Dias’ strike from hand-shaking distance was brilliantly blocked with the leg by Marna’s goalkeeper Jordan Fernandes.
