MARGAO: Relegation-threatened Salgoacar SC conceded an injury-time equaliser to share honours with Air-India in a highly insipid I-League match at Nehru stadium, Fatorda, which ended in a 1-1 draw on Friday.

In a listless and drab encounter, Nigerian striker Ekene Ikenwa put Salgaocar ahead just on the half hour mark and when it appeared that the green brigade were destined for the three pointer, the hosts rearguard went into a sudden slumber and allowed Ndubusi Opara to strike in the dying moments to give Air-India a priceless point.
With both the teams deep into the drop zone, it was expected of Air-India to come out with a defensive mindset but surprisingly, Salgaocar failed to take advantage with Ekene operating alone upfront and Bevan D’ Mello being employed in a rather deeper role.
It was a strange strategy by Salgoacar technical director Peter Valles and with a disjointed midfield, it only complicated things further for the Goans.
On the other side, Air-India were more satisfied in keeping the ball as much as far away from their citadel with defenders Peter Odafe and Khelemba Singh often involving in long clearances.
Salgaocar struggled to create any sort of momentum but got the much-needed breakthrough when the ball-starved Ekene got the opener in the 31st minute. Winger Francis Fernandes pushed the ball to Bevan, on the edge of the box, and the talented youngster spotted a hole in between rival stoppers Khelemba and Odafe to put Ekene inside the box and the Nigerian made best of the first real opportunity to go past the advancing Air-India keeper Arnab Das Sharma to squeeze the ball into the nylons from an acute angle.
Thereafter, it was just a tussle for ball possession with nothing worth mentioning in the remaining period. After the change of ends, the handful gathering were expecting an urgency from the local team but Salgaocar looked out of sorts with only skipper Luciano Sabrosa putting up a commendable display in the heart of the defence.
Although Air-India were trailing the visitors they showed  no signs of hurry with a laid back approach, except for captain Vijith Shetty, who toiled hard in the centre of the park. Air-India’s disjointed effort frustrated their coach Yusuf Ansari who at times appeared displeased. With their goal-scoring chances at a premium, Air-India almost got the equaliser in the 68th minute when a Uttam Singh long thrown-in was back-headed by the gangling Nigerian midfileder Yusf Tejani in the danger area where substitute Ruben D’Sousa out-jumped rival defender Semenia to head at the target. It looked a certain goal with Salgaocar defence in disorder, however, Kalyan Chaubey made amends with a superb save to turn the ball behind for a corner. At this stage another goal for Salgaocar would have killed off the plucky rivals from Mumbai but on the contrary Yusuf Anari’s men ended the game on a high with an equaliser out from the blue.
With referee Saji Kureien signalling 4 minutes added time, Salgaocar were all set for the win but goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey who had the tendency of unnecessary wastege of time got a booking from the Kerala referee for delay in taking a goal-kick. Kalyan’s poor kick was intercepted to the left flank by Air-India wing back Syed Farid and pushed for substitute Ruben who immediately launched a counter attack by realising Opara inside the box and the Nigerian who did nothing vital in the 92 minutes played advanced at the goal from the line and as the entire Salgaocar rearguard simply watched the hefty striker blasted a right footer, which crashed into the nylons leaving every one stunned. A victory would have lifted Salgaocar above six places from their precarious second from bottom, it never materialised leaving the Goan giants on the edge of the relegation zone.