Salgaocar holds Mahindra United to goalless draw

Margao, Dec 19 (UNI) Goalkeeper Milagrio Madeira's sterling performance under the bar enabled Salgaocar sports club to hold a spirited Mahindra United to a goalless draw and share points in the 6th round ONGC I-League champinship match being played here today.

With this drawn match, Mahindra increased their points tally to seven points and Salgaocar remained on three points from six outings each.

The first half saw both the teams trying to find out their bearing-with the play restricted to the midfield. Though Salgaocar team was more with the ball, their forwards Felix and Bonaface Ambani failed to combine well.

Salgaocar came near scoring in the 10th minute of the first half, but Biju Kumar's header missed the target off a free kick pass from Nicholas Rodrigues.

The jeepmen too had couple of chances to move ahead first, in the 22nd minute when Stevan Dias floated a pass to Andrew, whose header landed straight into the hands of the rival goalkeeper Milagrio Madeira.

Three minutes before the breather, Andrew's unleashed a rasping long ranger shot which sailed over the bar and at half time the score board remained blank.

After a barren first half, Mahindra attacked vigorously and came up with splendid opportunities in the 54th and 66th minute but Salgaocar goalkeeper Milagrio gave a superb display beneath the bar and stood between a goal and a defeat.

In the 54th minute, Salgaocar Goalkeeper beautifully saved Surojit Bose's header off a free kick pass from Stevan Dias.

Then in the 66th minute, home team goalkeeper smartly punched to corner a powerpacked header off Bello Rasak following a flag kick by Stevan Dias.

Towards the close of play, Salgaocar accelerated the pace of their game and made desperate attempts for the match winner. In the 79th minute Agnelo Colaco's header hit the cross bar and rebounded the play following a flag kick by Rochus Lamare.

Two minutes before the long whistle, Salgaocar had a golden opportunity to score but Felix, who took a hasty shot, went wide.

When Agnelo Barreto's header went towards Felix, he was lurking inside the goal and did not have a clear look at the goal and took a shot which went wide, it was a flag kick by Lamare.

Mahindra's Harpreet Singh was today adjudged the man of the match.

UNI