Churchill-Salgaocar split points

The sides missed a key player each 8212; Salgaocar left out India skipper Bruno Coutinho nursing a hamstring while Kasif Jamal sat out the match with two yellow cards.

Salgaocar coach Shabbir Ali was not disappointed with the result which now sees his team with eight points from five matches but smiled wryly when asked to comment on the goal his team conceded.

Shabbir said: 8220;It8217;s up to you to draw conclusion about the goal.8221;

The match took its toll on Salgaocar, with Roque Pereira, Roberto Fernandes and Francis Barua joining Coutinho and Jules Alberto on the injured list.

Shabbir was critical of Churchill8217;s tactics and came down heavily on some of the tackles. 8220;I was surprised at the way they kept hitting at us when they did not have the ball,8221; he lamented.

Churchill8217;s acting coach Armando Colaco was pleased with his side8217;s fightback to force a draw. He said: 8220;To earn a point after all the setbacks, problems and controversy is commendable.8221;

A composed performance by Salgaocar goalkeeper Juje Siddi earned him the man of the match award. The 8216;keepers sprightly show kept a resurgent Churchill Brothers at bay in the second-half. A display that drew praise even from Colaco.

Coming to the match, Salgaocar should have scored more from their first half efforts. After Odegah gave Chandrakant Naik no chance with a powerful header from Sanatan Singh8217;s corner in the 13th minute, the Federation Cup champions were on song.

Satish Kumar, playing for a half-fit Coutinho, went agonisingly close for Salgaocar within minutes. A chip, when ideally placed, that went over the bar and a powerful left-footer that struck the underside of the bar and rebounded back into play all but put an energised side further ahead.

Churchill looked out of depth in attack and Iraqi Yonan Basim often shaped dangerously but lacked support from somewhat subdued fellow strikers Chibuzor and Marcus Carvalho.

Carvalho, though, provided Churchill their only moment mid-way through the first half. Outwitting a closely attending Francis Coelho, the former Dempo striker floated his attempt across the face of the goal.

It was the turn of busy Roberto Fernandes to make his presence felt for Salgaocar often overlapping and doubling up to nip Churchill8217;s raids in the bud. The wing-back had Chandrakant Naik stretching to concede a corner in the 26th minute.

Roberto8217;s control and energy, however, flustered Churchill8217;s defender Oscar Hunda. A yellow card to the Nigerean followed as Churchill continued to struggle.