Salgaocar FC's title hopes ended when they were held to a 3-3 draw by Sporting clube de Goa in an exciting 24th round match in the I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here today.
Salgaocar, who were looking to keep themselves in the title hunt started well and were 2-0 up at the start of the match with Darryl Duffy (3rd) and Dudu Omagbemi (11th) finding the net.
But the Flaming Oranje did not loose heart and restored parity before half time through Kalu Ogba (20th) and Boima Karpeh (41st) and later took the lead after the break through Rowlin Borges (73rd). They were looking for a win before substitute Bikash Jairu blasted a left-footed volley to allow Salgaocar restore parity.
The draw takes Salgaocar's tally to 38 points from 23 matches and are out of the reckoning for the title race. Bengaluru who is leading the table with 41 points from 22 matches now faces the only challenge from East Bengal for the title race who have 37 points from 21 matches.
Salgaocar, looking to close the gap at the top, took an early lead from a penalty kick after Darryl Duffy who was dangerously moving with the ball inside the box was tripped from behind by Sporting's defender Rogen Singh.
Duffy who himself took the kick beat rival keeper Melroy Fernandes to his right with a deft placement in the third minute.
Eight minutes later Salgaocar increased the lead. Freiman Peixoto initiated the move from the middle as he relayed the ball to Francis Fernandes on the right flank who sent a measured cross which Dudu Omagbemi sent in with a powerful header, giving keeper Melroy no chance to react.
