JOIN USA shoddy goalkeeping display from Nicolas eventually cost Income Tax Sports Club as they were forced to share points after a 1-1 draw against Sports Authority of India in a BDFA Super Division fixture at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Wednesday.
In a keenly contested affair, IT were clearly the better side and began pressing right from the whistle, while their opponents were stifled and had very few chances offensively.
The first real chance of the game fell to the taxmen in 12th minute when after a neat exchange of passes with Jones, Suhas’ cross from the right flank found Lokesh unmarked on the far side. The winger took his time to set up but couldn’t control his shot and fired well over.
Lokesh, though, made ammends for his error six minutes later when he a played a good ball into the middle as AD Kumar got onto the end of it and finshed the move off in a composed manner, giving his side a deserved 1-0 lead.
IT were then fortunate to go into the break in the lead as in the 35th minute, Nicolas erred in judgement and rushed off his line but failed to collect the ball but Sabir Khan could not hit the ball into an empty net.
After the break, SAI put in an improved performance, creating plenty of opportunities but failing to convert any of them.
Parity was restored in the 62nd minute when Vijay thumped in a harmless freekick from close to the halfway line. Nicolas’ judgement failed him once again after he positioned himself miserably and saw the ball lob into the back of the net after bouncing a few yards ahead of him.
SAI continued to press for a winner in vain as the match ended at 1-1.
Earlier, Saravana Lokesh scored a brace as LRDE pipped Jawahar Union 3-2 in an A Division fixture.