JCT were lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw against Sporting Clube, Goa in a 15th round match of the 11th National Football League, at the Guru Nanak stadium in Ludhiana on Saturday.
A goal in injury time enabled JCT hold the Goan outfit, which is lying seventh on the league table with 18 points.
JCT, with 22 points, are in third place [see league table].
The spotlight was on two Nigerians -- Chidi Edeh of JCT and Sporting Clube's Dudu Omagbemi, but it was the latter who walked away with the honours.
It was Dudu's goal in the 81st minute that stunned JCT and almost clinched victory for his side.
However it was the little-known Sakatar Singh, who in the second minute of injury time, beat the crouching Sporting custodian Felix D'Souza with a low shot that the goalkeeper failed to sight. JCT, who are difficult to beat on home turf, heaved a sign of relief as the ball kissed the net.
The Goan side played to a plan and had their best defenders shadow the dangerous Chidi and his striking partner Sunil Chhetri, who together have scored 18 goals between them in the NFL this season.
The teams shared honours in the first half, but in the second it was JCT who raided the rival citadel a number of times only to be foiled by a stout-hearted Sporting defence. Felix D'Souza also played his role well and came up with a few spectacular saves.
In the 81st minute Dudu combined Wilson Jones before beating the JCT defence and slipping the ball past diving goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.
Stung by the reverse, JCT went on an all-out offensive and ultimately Sakatar Singh found the equalizer.
The Goan side, which had won the away meeting in Goa, were satisfied with the draw, though their coach Clifford Chukuwama felt they should have won the match.
With today's strike, Dudu has 11 goals to his credit and is amongst the leading goal scorers. Chettri has 10 to his credit while Chidi has eight.
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