MARGAO
Corps of Signals and newcomers and bottom-placed side Panchwadi United SC played out a 1-1 draw in the GFA's First Division League at Panchayat ground, Raia on Sunday.
Corps of Signals were no great shakes in the first half but they built their attacks and dominated the game. The military men came up with two chances early in the game when Ajay Singh blew away an easy chance with only Panchwadi goalkeeper Ashisha Betodkar to beat as he shot wide and later Pawan Thakur Singh ballooned over a shot from close range.
The Corps of Signals fell behind in the 10th minute when Salman Singh, trying to avert danger, put the ball into his own net as custodian Niyas Mon was caught off guard. Down by the own goal, Corps intensified their attacks and put pressure on the rivals and nearly found the equaliser but Roneji Meetei fumbled with his effort.
At the other end, Panchwadi United had a couple of scoring chances but their forwards misfired from close. With the time running out for the lemon break, the Corps exerted pressure and their efforts bore the fruit in the 43rd minute when Ajay Thakur beat the rival goalkeeper with a clinical finish.
Post resumption, Corps looked the more organised side and tried to string short passes but their forwards' inability inside the rival penalty box denied them a sure victory. Panchwadi had a golden chance to make it 2-1 but Arron Almeida's rasping shot was well blocked by Corps goalkeeper Niyas Mon. The Corps also spurned a chance to put his team into the lead when Lairellakap Singh squandered an open chance with only Panchawadi goalkeeper to beat.
Panchwadi then had a glorious opportunity midway in the session when Paxton Gomes failed to put the ball into the net after goalkeeeper Niyas Mon made a blunder while collecting the ball, but managed to avert the danger. Paxton again was the offender when he was put through by Wayne Rodrigues but failed to put the ball into the net. In the dying minutes, Solomon Khonsai pulled the trigger from outside the box which failed to test the rival goalkeeper.
With this draw, Corps of Signals have collected 19 points from 10 matches while Panchwadi United took their tally to five points from the same number of encounters.
