Salgaocar, who are in danger of relegation, wasted a penalty as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sporting Clube de Goa in the 10th ONGC National Football League, at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Wednesday.
After a barren first half, Salgaocar took the lead in the 49th minute through a penalty from Fabio Passo. However, Sporting fought back and equalised through Dudu Omagbemi in the 82nd minute.
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Salgaocar, who have 12 points from 16 matches, two points behind Mohammedan Sporting, now need a victory over the Kolkata outfit in their last match on May 20 to avoid relegation. A draw for Mohammedan Sporting will keep them in the league.
Sporting, who play their last match against Mahindra United on May 21, have 24 points from 16 matches.
The first half was confined to midfield, with both teams showing no urgency in the attack. Sporting tested Salgaocar's 'keeper Sangram Mukherjee with a long range shot from Adebayo. Edeh Chidi, who had a couple of chances, muffed an open chance as he drove the ball wide.
Salgaocar looked pedestrian in the first half. The team also wasted a penalty early in the second half to go ahead, but Samson Singh's shot was saved by Sporting custodian Luis Baretto.
Singh again got an opportunity two minutes later to score but Baretto rose to the occasion and saved his shot. The Sporting custodian was declared man-of-the-match.
Salgaocar finally broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when Fabio Passo scored from a penalty-kick after Rocus Lamare was tripped inside the box by a defender.
Sporting Clube de Goa regrouped and found the equalizer in the 82nd minute when Dudu Omagbemi got the better of a rival defender to drive home a low grounder that beat 'keeper Sangram to his left, following a lob by Chidi from the right.
