MARGAO
A late injury goal from Rahul Singpho rescued a point for hosts Arunachal Pradesh and hold Goa to a thrilling 3-3 draw in the 77th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy Group A final round, at Golden Jubilee Stadium,Yupia, in Arunachal Pradesh, on Wednesday.
In a riveting football encounter, Goa in the first half witnessed a series of near misses and opportunities. Goa started the game on an attacking note and silenced the home crowd when midfielder Necio Maristo Fernandes headed home off a cross from Muhammed Ali in the 20th minute.
Arunachal Pradesh came back with home crowds rooting them as Rahul Gorju Singpho slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot in the 25th minute.
The second half kicked off with Arunachal Pradesh taking the lead as Goa goalkeeper Dylan Da Silva came out of his position and created a blunder as Tame Agung converted the spot kick to send the Goan goalkeeper in the wrong direction in the 62nd minute. Undeterred, Goa pressed forward with striker Mohammed Faheez who was star of day who found the roof of the net in the 75th minute to level the score.
In a dramatic turn of events late in the game, Joshua D'Silva regained the lead in the 76th minute for Goa to make it 3-2. With the match drifting towards the end, Arunachal Pradesh made a last ditch effort and in the injury time 90+6 when Rahul Gorju Singho saved the home side from the jaws of defeat. Goa will now play Kerala on February 23.
