Goalkeeper Arindam Ghosh saved a late penalty to enable Tollygunge Agragami finish 1-1 with Vasco Sports Club in a seventh National Football League match in Kolkata on Friday.
Marcos Pereira put Vasco ahead in the first-half with a power-packed side volley before Nigerian Akeem Abolanle restored partity for Tollygunge from a penalty early in the second0half at the Salt Lake stadium.
Following a Selwyn Fernandes centre from the right, Brazilian Pereira banged into the net from just inside the box to make the scoreline 1-0 in the 20th minute.
Tollygunge seemed rudderless in the opening session but gave a much improved display after the breather and levelled the score in the 49th minute.
Selwyn Fernandes was pulled up by referee Sarat Chandra Singh for handling the ball inside the box following an Asim Biswas shot. Akeem made no mistake in converting the resultant spot kick.
Five minutes before close, a combined Vasco move saw Pereira hit the Tollygunge bar. The rebound came to Shanta Singh, whose volley found the post before hitting Tollygunge player Srikanta Dutta's hand. The referee, who was standing nearby, awarded a penalty to Vasco. But Ghosh brilliantly saved Ruy Wanderley's shot to prevent his side's sure collapse.
Ghosh, who had a good day under the bar, was adjudged the man of the match.
After 15 matches, Vasco now have 25 points while Tollygunge are four points behind.
