Sporting club de Goa hold Air India to 1-1 draw

Margao, Apr 1 (UNI) Air India, Mumbai, and Sporting club de Goa played out a 1-1 draw and split points in their 11th round of the ONGC National Football league championship match at the Nehru stadium at Fatorda today.

Both the goals came in the first half. Samson Singh scored for Air India in the 7th minute, while Dudu Omaghbehmi equalised for Sporting in the 40th minute.

Samson Singh neatly headed in a good pass given by Bashiru Abbas from the left flank. Inspired by the early goal, the visitors continued to attack and had a chance to increase their lead in the 13th minute when Paresh Shivalkar and Bhasiru, in a combined move, passed to Samson, whose shot try sailed over the bar.

Five minutes before half time, Sporting restored parity through Dudu Omagbhemi, who after collecting a pass from Nicholas Borgues made a perfect placement deceiving rival goalkeeper Raju Ekka to make it 1-1.

Sporting had a chance to take the lead during the injury minute of the first half when Chitra Chandrasehkar gave a pass to Dudu, who from the top of the box unleashed a powerpacked shot but it sailed over the bar.

In the second half, though both the teams made some attempts for the match winner, no penetrating moves were witnessed for the major part of the session. However, towards the close of play Air India had a chance to forge ahead in the 84th minute when Paresh Shivalkar floated a pass to Nirmal Chetri but his header missed the goal by a whisker.

With this drawn match, both Air India and Sporting club de Goa, with 14 points each, maintained their 4th and 5th places respectively.

Air India's Paresh Shivalkar was adjudged 'man of the match'.

UNI