ND Opara’s injury-time goal helped Air India hold Salgaocar to a 1-1 draw in I-League 3 here on Friday.
Salgaocar took the lead in the first half. Francis Fernandes from the right laid a square pass to Beevan D’Mello, who quickly released Ekene Ikenwa with a through. Ikenwa got the better of Air India custodian Arnab Das Sharma and slammed the ball into the net.
Air India, playing without four regular players, looked a different side in the second half. They had a couple of chances early in the second half but failed to equalise. First, Praneel Suresh was found unmarked inside the box but drove wide with Salgaocar keeper Kalyan Chaubey beaten in the 50th minute. Ten minutes later, an Uttam Singh throw in from the right saw Yusif Ibrahim relay the ball to substitute Reuben D'Souza whose header was palmed off by Chaubey.
Salgaocar could have increased the lead on the break in the 80th minute, but Lestor Fernandes shot over from inside the box.