Salgaocar rally to hold Churchill

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December 29, 2003 20:22 IST

Salgaocar and Churchill Brothers were involved in a 2-2 draw in a sixth round match in the National Football League in Margao, Goa, on Monday.

Churchill were reduced to ten men midway through the second half, but Salgaocar failed to cash in on the advantage.

Salgaocar took lead in the 14th minute when a move from the left saw Felix Ibrebru get the better of Churchill defender Osumanu Hussiani and send a waist high cross to Freddy Mascarenhas, who controlled the ball before despatching it into the net from close.

Churchill retaliated and equalised the next minute when their Ghanian striker Yusif Yakubu relayed the ball to Ratan Singh on the right. The last named crossed to Nigerian striker John Kingsley, who nodded home.

Thereafter, play was confined to midfield as both the teams tried to look for opening in the defence.

A minute before the interval, Churchill took the lead when Yakubu, after getting the ball on the left, got the better of a rival defender and sent a goal mouth cross for Roque Pereira, who left-footed the ball in.

Salgaocar played with more zeal in the second half and restored parity in the 51st minute. A counter move on the right saw Ragi Singh's shot blocked by defender Osumanu Husseini and the deflection came to Jatin Bist, who despatched a stiff grounder that found the net.

Churchill were reduced to ten men in 62nd minute when Kingsley got his second yellow card from referee Walter Pereira.

Salgaocar, who had more ball possession and ruled the midfield, lacked the creativity to punch holes in the rival defence and the absence of Tomba Singh and Dharamjit Singh was felt.

On the contrary Churchill played an attacking game and nearly came to taking the lead but Yakubu was late in connecting a cross from the right.

Referee Pereira also showed yellow cards to Salgaocar's Ragi Singh and Remus Gomes.

Churchill now have 11 points from six matches while Salgaocar have seven points.

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