Fransa Pax holds Salgaocar to 1-1 draw

Panaji, Mar 8 (UNI) Former champions Salgaocar Sports Club squandered winning opportunities and had to be content with 1-1 draw against Fransa Pax in the ONGC Cup 10th National Football league championship match being played at Duler ground Mapusa today.

Salgaocar could have won outright had they utilised the gilt-edged opportunites before them in the first half.

Both the goals came in the second half through Saikchom Shanta Singh in the 61st minute for Fransa, while Salgaocar's Samson Singh equalised in the 68th minute to make it. 1-1.

With this drawn match, Salgaocar increased their points tally to six from seven outings, while Fransa remained at the bottom with three points from six outings.

Salgoacar's Agnelo Colaco was today adjudged the man of the match.

It was a tale of missed chances for both the teams in the first session, in which Salgaocar had an edge.

Salgaocar came with a first good move in the 12th minute of the first half with Fabio dos Possos from the left flank and gave a pass to Jerose Oliveira, whose attempted efforts missed the mark narrowly.

Fransa, too, had a chance to move ahead in the 33rd minute, but Mohammed Nizam header went wide following a flag kick taken by Roque Barreto. Six minutes later, Salgaocar's Bruno Oliveira unleashed a powerpacked 25 yarder shot, which crushed into the cross bar and wasted.

After barren first half, Fransa regroped themselves well and shot into the lead in the 61st minute through Shanta Singh, whose 20 yarder shot found the net. 1-0.

Stung by the debacle, Salgaocar accelerated the pace of their game and restored the parity in the 68th minute through Samson Singh off a pass from Possos. 1-1.

After the draw, both teams made some desperate attempts for the match winner but without any luck.

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