I-League: Salgaocar draw match with Rangdajied

Shillong: Gilbert Oliveira struck a goal in the dying moments of the game to save table topper Salgaocar from embarrassment as they played a 2-2 draw match with bottom-placed Rangdajied United FC in the I-League on Wednesday.

The second I-League team from Meghalaya fired two goals in the first half to put themselves in a dominant position while the visitors reduced the margin before the break at the J N stadium. The opener came from David Ngaite in the second minute of the match. Ngaite converted a free kick on the right flank with his head.

Ngaite doubled the lead in the 27th minute when he was unmarked inside the box while Lalnunpuia made his way past two defenders. Ngaite and Lalnunpuia gave the visitors a hard time at the back as their unwittingly fast pace were equally matched by their Brazilian team mate Edmar.

The trio kept Salgaocar keeper Karanjit Singh busy at the back even as Lalnunpuia's powerful shot from a 30 yard in the 31st minute of the match went straight into his hands.

Cloud Gnakpa header from a short corner in the 39th minute earned the visitors their solitary goal in the first half to give the visiting team a much-needed push.

Returning after the lemon break, Salgaocar changed their tactics and kept on sending long range drops at the box to test Rangdajied keeper Shambu Mistry.

On any given opportunity, the visitors kept on pumping long range drop balls which were cleared off by Lamine Tamba and his Japanese mate Yohei Iwasaki.

Substitute Gilbert Oliveira's shot in the 90th minute finally paid off for the visitors as his powerful right footer sent the home custodian into the air while missing a save to level the score 2-2.

After today's match, the host levelled their points with former I-League champion Churchill Brothers with three points each after 8 and 7 matches respectively. Both are in the relegation zone with each putting in five goals while Rangdajied conceding 17 goals and Churchill Brothers 10.

Salgaocar, on the other hand, remained on top with 17 points from 8 matches and three points ahead of Bengaluru FC.