KOLKATA (India): Indian Arrows were held to a 1-1 draw by Southern Samity at the 123rd IFA Shield opener on Sunday.
Sujit Saren had put Southern Samity in the lead against the run of play in the first half, but the Arrows fought back in the second half to level the scores in the end with a Gurkirat Singh cracker.
It was a frantic start to the game as both sides probed and prodded at each other’s defence. Parthib Gogoi created an early chance for the Arrows, sending in a volleyed cross towards Tapan Haldar beyond the far post. The winger brought the ball under control and tried to sell a dummy to create space, but was eventually dispossessed.
Southern Samity had their first real chance on the counter a little ahead of the quarter-hour mark, when a Gurkirat free-kick was punched out and Southern Samity striker Rudy Abblode broke free of the defence with the goal in his sight. But Ricky Shabong put in a precise sliding tackle to regain possession.
Southern Samity managed to get the lead near the hour mark, when Sujit Saren slotted it into the Arrows net to put the local side in the lead. (Source: AIFF)
