I-League: Aizawl rally to hold Salgaocar to draw

R Malsawntluanga’s injury time goal helped Aizawl FC hold Salgaocar to 1-1 draw in a fifth round encounter of the I-League, in Vasco on Sunday.

However after four defeats, Salgaocar were able to log home a point from the match under new coach Santosh Kashyap.

Salgaocar went into the lead in the 44th minute through Darry Duffy and were crusing well on the way to victory before Malsawntluanga restored a parity from a penalty kick to frustrate Salgaocar.

The home team started well and had the first chance in the 10th minute when Jackichand Singh curled his shot from the left was fisted away by rival keeper Soram. Nine minutes later, a one-two-one between Jackichand and Darryl Duffy saw the former shot saved by rival keeper Soram.

Salgaocar finally broke the deadlock in the 44th minute when Darryl Duffy, who received a long ball from Gujinder Singh inside the box beat rival keeper to find the net with a low shot to have Salgaocar leading 1-0 at half time.

The visitors who looked better side after the break had a chance to restore parity in the 55th minute but Yuta Kinokawi header had no power to beat Karanjit Singh under the bar.

Few minutes latter, Brandon Vanlalremdika half volley missed the target narrowly.

The visitors who applied pressure in the dying minutes to restore parity earned a penalty in the injury time after Salgaocar's defender, who tried to clear the ball, missed the kick and hit rival player Alfred Jaryan’s hamstring inside the box forcing the referee to award a penalty in favour of Aizawl.

The resultant penalty was converted by R Malsawntluanga to have his team collect one point and take their tally to four points from five matches.

Salgaocar who are still to score a win, collect their first point from the draw.

Earlier in the day, Shillong Lajong registered a home win and their second consecutive victory, after blanking Sporting Club De Goa 1-0 in Shillong.

Brazilian striker Uilliams Bomfin Souza scored the all important goal for Lajong in 58th minute after compatriot Fabio Pena's shot was rebounded by rival custodian Arindam Bhattacharya.

With 7 points from four encounters, Lajong are now at the 5th place in the 9-team table while the Goan side slipped to the 6th place with four points in as many matches.

Image: Salgaocar FC and Aizawl FC players locked in a battle for possession during their I-League match at the Tilak Maidan in Panaji on Sunday.

Photograph: PTI