Salgaocar hold East Bengal in a barren draw

Margao, Jan 8 (IANS) In a match that seldom rose above the mediocrity level, Salgaocar held East Bengal to a goalless draw at home in the I-League football tournament, at Nehru Stadium here Tuesday.

Salgaocar's impressive defensive display in the 10th round was coupled with East Bengal's shoddy finishing. Ultimately the Goan club thwarted East Bengal's attempts to move away from the relegation zone.

East Bengal, nevertheless, managed to grab what is only their first point in six matches. However, Salgaocar remained without a win in 10 matches even as newly appointed technical director Subhas Bhowmick watched nervously from the VIP gallery.

Nicolau Colaco - standing in for suspended Rwandan defender Herry Habimana - in particular stood like an unshakeable tower for Salgaocar as East Bengal controlled a one-sided match without getting the breakthrough they, probably, deserved.

East Bengal's Brazilian import Edmilson Marques after a goal drought in three matches, and Alvito D'Cunha seemed determined at the start, but all their efforts were undone by poor finishing.

Alvito, Snehashish Chakraborty, Dipendu Biswas wasted East Bengal's best opportunities in the first session before Salgaocar keeper Marcus Basumatari denied Edmilson late on with an acrobatic effort.

At the other end, Bolaji Majek, partnered by Kenyan Julius Owino, was on hand to make a tackle or block every time Salgaocar came close to threatening.

As a result, Salgaocar did not manage one single effort at goal during the opening period, although Nigerian striker Felix should have done with a glancing header from Shylo Malswathulunga's corner.

Salgaocar, however, seemed a transformed lot after the change of ends with the inclusion of Kenyan striker Boniface Ambani.

Salgaocar coach Savio Medeira benched Ambani, nursing a thigh strain. But with Milagres Gonsalves largely unrecognisable upfront, Ambani was asked to take the field.

The Kenyan striker - formerly with East Bengal - troubled his former employers' defence with some sharp running. But, the final move that translates a good move into a goal remained elusive till the final whistle.

Salgaocar's best efforts in the second session were both wasted by Ambani.

At first, his pile-driver missed the target by a whisker and later he found East Bengal goalkeeper Subrata Paul equal to the task after working a nice one-two with Fabio dos Passos.

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