PUNE, January 8, 2013: Air India lost their fire midway through the match after having started on a fine note as the ‘home’ team drew their Round XV match 1-1 against Salgaocar Football Club in the I-League football championship at the Balewadi Stadium here on Tuesday (January 8).
Vijith Shetty struck home early in the match to give Air India a leg up, but Salgaocar rallied brilliantly to even the things out and actually control the proceedings in the second half. Francis Fernandes chanced on a nice move following a corner in the left in the 32nd minute but second half failed to produce any goal-scoring moves as the teams shared the spoils.
With the draw, Air India’s points tally swelled to 14 from 13 matches while Salgaocar is on 12 from 14 matches. Air India stay at No. 9 position while Salgaocar stood at No. 11.
Having lost out on the opportunity to earn full points in their last round against Sporting Clube de Goa, Air India began with Elijah Junior and Henry Ezeh upfront. With Vijith Shetty in tow, the strikers forced Salgaocar into defensive.
The match was just into fifth minute when Junior floated the ball into the box from the left. Midfielder Souvik Chakraborty chested the ball and controlled it before releasing it for Shetty, who fired a left-footed shot into the Salgaocar goal.
Coach Anthony Fernandes’ gamble with Bhushan Thube in the defence backfired as his over-aggressive approach failed to cut the ice with the referee. In between, Salgaocar found its footing and began taking control of the proceedings.
In the 32nd minute, Salgaocar made a foray and earned a corner. The ball was cleared into corner in the left when Francesco Fernandes found the ball right behind him. He turned a little and fired into the top corner of Air India post to give them the much needed equalizer.
On resumption, Salgaocar took the initiative and made several forays only to see their moves getting frittered away.
Milagres Fernandes created a good chance in the 69th minute when he moved right into the box with just one Air India defender to beat. But substitute Gagandeep Singh, who had fresh pair of legs after going in just two minute before, made a fantastic save and cleared the danger.
Vijith Shetty struck home early in the match to give Air India a leg up, but Salgaocar rallied brilliantly to even the things out and actually control the proceedings in the second half. Francis Fernandes chanced on a nice move following a corner in the left in the 32nd minute but second half failed to produce any goal-scoring moves as the teams shared the spoils.
With the draw, Air India’s points tally swelled to 14 from 13 matches while Salgaocar is on 12 from 14 matches. Air India stay at No. 9 position while Salgaocar stood at No. 11.
Having lost out on the opportunity to earn full points in their last round against Sporting Clube de Goa, Air India began with Elijah Junior and Henry Ezeh upfront. With Vijith Shetty in tow, the strikers forced Salgaocar into defensive.
The match was just into fifth minute when Junior floated the ball into the box from the left. Midfielder Souvik Chakraborty chested the ball and controlled it before releasing it for Shetty, who fired a left-footed shot into the Salgaocar goal.
Coach Anthony Fernandes’ gamble with Bhushan Thube in the defence backfired as his over-aggressive approach failed to cut the ice with the referee. In between, Salgaocar found its footing and began taking control of the proceedings.
In the 32nd minute, Salgaocar made a foray and earned a corner. The ball was cleared into corner in the left when Francesco Fernandes found the ball right behind him. He turned a little and fired into the top corner of Air India post to give them the much needed equalizer.
On resumption, Salgaocar took the initiative and made several forays only to see their moves getting frittered away.
Milagres Fernandes created a good chance in the 69th minute when he moved right into the box with just one Air India defender to beat. But substitute Gagandeep Singh, who had fresh pair of legs after going in just two minute before, made a fantastic save and cleared the danger.
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