ITI hold Vasco goalless

Three missed chances by striker Peter Rodrigues denied Vasco full points, as they were held to a goalless draw by Indian Telephone Industries in a National Football League match, at the Nehru stadium, in Fatorda, Goa, on Saturday.

Vasco, who dominated the second half, had more than half a dozen chances but poor finishing by their upfront let them down. The chief offender was striker Peter Rodrigues, who missed chances galore.

ITI keeper Balaji Rao also did an admirable job to guard the goal until the 67th minute when he failed to collect Awazbek Koshimov shot. Luckily for him, the ball failed to cross the goalline.

ITI, who matched their rivals equally in the first half and first ten minutes of the second half, came with a series of raids but failed to get past the rival defence.

With this draw, Vasco remain on fifth place with 14 points from three wins, five draws and one loss while ITI collected 7 points from nine matches.

ITI, who survived anxious moments in the second half, were reduced to ten men in the closing stage when referee Michael Andrew had a second booking on Majid for dissent.

Vasco could have surged ahead in the 8th minute, when Daniel Colaco from the right sent a cross into the box beating the entire rival defence. However, Peter Rodrigues failed to tap home from close.

After change of ends, Rodrigues had the best chance, in the 48th minute, to put his team ahead when Edson put him clear into the box but, with only keeper Rao at his mercy, he shot over the bar.