Salgaocar hold Churchill 2-2
A spectacular goal by India medio Bungo Singh enabled Goa Professional League champions Salgaocar hold last year's runners-up Churchill Brothers 2-2 in the opening match of the seventh OIL PSU National Football League at the Nehru stadium, in Fatorda, Goa, on Friday.
Top scorer of the sixth edition Yakubu Yusif and Tikken Singh found the net, in the 19th and 24th minutes, for Churchill, after Sunday Seah had put the 1998-99 champions ahead in the fourth minute.
Bungo Singh got the equaliser for Salgaocar in the 71st minute.
The league was inaugurated by the Vice-President of India Bairon Singh Shekawat.
In a keen and fast-paced encounter, Salgaocar, who had beaten their opponents in the Goa Professional League, surged ahead as early as in the fourth minute through the opportunism of Seah. Following a powerful shot by Alex Ambrose, Churchill goalkeeper Edward Ansah failed to collect cleanly. Seah was quick to pounce upon the ball as it slipped from the 'keeper's grasp and bulge the net.
But the early reverse only brought out the best out of the Churchill players. They settled down and attacked the Salgaocar citadel. By the 19th minute they were back on level terms when Yakubu found the net off a cross from Rajesh Meetei.
Five minutes later, Salgaocar had a chance to forge ahead for the second time in the match but Ansah did extremely well to thwart a stiff shot from Bello Rasaq. That miss proved costly for Salgaocar as their defence was caught napping from a counter raid which saw Churchill score again and make it 2-1.
A throw-in by Rajesh Meetei caught the Salgaocar defenders leaden-footed as Tikken Singh trapped the ball and beat goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey with an angular shot; the ball hit the post and found the net.
Churchill maintained slight edge early in the second session and could have increased the lead in the 62nd minute but Zaheer Abbas Hamsa made a mess of a sitter, failing to connect a fine through from Meetei.
Minutes later, it was Salgaocar's turn to have a try at goal as Manipur stars Bungo Singh and Tomba Singh broke through. However, the last-named was unfortunate to see Ansah save his stiff shot.
But Salgaocar were rewarded for their hard work in the 71st minute when Bango Singh unleashed a stiff 30-yard shot, following a passing bout between Tomba and Sebastiao Endro, which bulged the net.
Inspired by the equaliser, and strong crowd support, Salgaocar came close to clinching a last-gasp winner, but Ansah rose to the occasion to save a shot from Sunday Seah in the last minute following a cross from Dennis Cabral.
Churchill's Noel Wilson, Yakubu Yusif and Zahir Abbas Hamsa were shown yellow cards for rough play.
Bruno Countinho feted
Former India captain and Arjuna awardee Bruno Countinho was hououred by the Goa government for his contribution to football.
The ace footballer was presented with a cheque of Rs 500,000 and a memento by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. He was also presented a cheque of Rs 25,000 and silver plate by the Goa Football Association.
Complete Coverage: 7th National Football League 2002-03
