Salgaocar took the lead in the 31st minute when striker Calvin Mbarga picked up the ball from attacking midfielder Martin Scott to score past rival goalkeeper Jerson Pereira. In the 58th minute, Vasco equalised when striker Chinedu Jiogu beat two rival markers and hoodwinked goalkeeper Bruno Colaco with a neat finish off a pass from Sujil NS.
The Goan Network
MARGAO
Vasco Sports Club rallied from behind to hold defending champions Salgaocar FC 1-1 in the GFA Pro League match at Panchayat grounds, Raia on Monday. Salgaocar FC led 1-0 at the breather.
Salgaocar enjoyed the better share of exchanges and ball possession with striker Calvin Mbarga constantly harassing the rival defence with dash and speed.
At the other end, Vasco took time to settle down and once they struck rhythm they called the shots.Vasco created early scare when Kingsley Fernandes sped past the rival defender and with only Salgaocar goalkeeper Bruno Colaco to beat. Kingsley was thwarted by the rival defender in the nick of time.After the initial scare, Salgaocar regrouped quickly and fired a couple shots that looked threatening but it yielded no result. Salgaocar striker Calvin Mbarga almost broke the deadlock but his shot sailed over the crossbar much to the dismay of Salgaocar supporters.
Salgaocar finally took the lead in the 31st minute when striker Calvin Mbarga picked up the ball from attacking midfielder Martin Scott and the former slotted past the rival goalkeeper Jerson Pereira.
Post resumption, Vasco put up an improved performance and made inroads into the rival territory with Nigerian striker Chinedu Jiogu troubling the rival defence with well orchestrated raids.
At the other hand, Salgaocar almost doubled the lead soon after resumption but striker Calvin Mbarga's snap shot missed the target narrowly after Martin Scott laid him a fine pass. Again Salgaocar's Calvin Mbarga had a golden chance to increase the tally but Calvin shot wide from close range. In the 58th minute, Vasco finally equalised when striker Chinedu Jiogu beat his two rival markers and hoodwinked the rival goalkeeper Bruno Colaco with a neat finish off a pass from Sujil NS.
Salgaocar could have fetched the match-winner but striker Calvin fumbled in front of the rival goal mouth after Aslon Oliveira put him on the platter. In the 80th minute, Salgaocar's Martin Scot was ejected by referee Melywn D'Costa after he received the second yellow card on a vicious foul on Vasco's Sujil. With time running out, both the teams had chances but none managed to score the match-winner.
