I-League: Mumbai FC rally through penalties to hold Salgaocar FC to 2-2 draw

Vasco (Goa): Mumbai FC scored two penalty goals as they rallied to hold Salgaocar FC to a 2-2 draw in an 11th round I-League football match at Tilak Stadium here.

The draw takes Salgaocar FC's tally to nine points from 11 matches. With their third successive draw, Mumbai FC are now on 12 points from 11 matches.

The match was fought evenly as both the teams tried to gauge each other's strength initially which saw play confined mostly to midfield.

Salgaocar FC, whose morale was high after they beat East Bengal, set the early tone as they tried to get past the rival defence. Both the teams were unable to break rival defence as ball was confined to midfield in the early part of the first half.

Salgaocar finally broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Jackichand Singh held on to a Reagan Singh lob from the left and let go a rasping volley that found the far corner of the net.

Mumbai FC then launched a series of attacks in search of the equaliser and earned a penalty after Reagan Singh brought down Sushil Kumar Singh inside the box. Sushil himself converted it to have both the teams 1-1 at half time.

Salgaocar once again took the lead in the 48th minute when substitute Brian Mascrenhas, running down the left flank, took a crack at the goal and keeper Pawan Kumar failed to stop it from entering the net.

Stunned by the soft goal, the visitors went in search of an equaliser and mounted pressure on the home team. Brian Mascarenhas twice made a goal line save off Pratik shot.

However, the visitors were once again were awarded a penalty after Ryuki Kozawa's shot hit a rival defender's hands inside the box and referee awarded the penalty. Kozawa himself converted it.