Vasco (Goa), Jan 31 (IANS) Salgaocar managed to get their first point of the season being held 1-1 by Aizawl FC in an I-League encounter at the Tilak Maidan here on Sunday.
Scottish striker Darryl Duffy (44th minute) put Salgaocar ahead just before halftime. But midfielder Robert Malsawmtluanga (90+1) converted a penalty for Aizawl to give the I-League newcomers a hard-fought point.
Salgaocar thus managed to climb up a spot to the eight place in the nine-team points table while Aizawl are at seventh.
There were chances for both sides in the opening few minutes, but neither could take advantage. Around the 19th minute mark, Duffy played out a brilliant move with midfielder Jakichand Singh after which the latter found himself in acres of space and only the Aizawl custodian Soram Anganba to beat. But Anganba pulled off a good save.
The visitors kept attacking, but were repeatedly foiled by the Salgaocar defenders. In the 42nd minute, Fanai Lalrinpuia almost gave them the lead with a 30-yard screamer, but his shot whizzed narrowly past the post.
However, it was Duffy who got onto the scoresheet at the other end two minutes later as he latched onto a long ball and placed it past Soram to find his third goal of the season.
After the restart, it was Aizawl who tried to press on the accelerator. They had a few more chances, but wasted them with their poor execution.
When it looked like Salgaocar would finally have their first win of the season, Reagan Singh brought down Alfred Jaryan inside the visitors’ box to give away a penalty. Malsawmtluanga stepped up and calmly sent it past the Salgaocar goalkeeper to restore parity for the visitors.