Striker Arjun Tudu led the charge for Services with an injury-time goal to help his side force a 3-3 draw against five-time champion Goa in a group ‘B' league encounter of the 65th senior National football championship for the Santosh Trophy here on Sunday.
Looking to revamp its performance Goa made three changes, especially in its attack, to the side that lost against Railways. But Services enjoyed the initial momentum with Tudu threatening the Goa defence with his searing runs. The 20-year-old found the mark in the fourth minute with a fine angular finish to put Goa on the back foot.
The tentativeness in the striking zone continued to dog Goa before Augustin, a 27th minute defensive substitute, nodded home a 44th minute corner. Victorino, who substituted an off-colour Valzino after the break, turned things around for Goa finding the lead two minutes into the second half (2-1).
Services, showing its strength in set-piece situations, brought up the equaliser with Edwin finishing a 62nd minute corner (2-2).
Goa re-launched the search for lead and found it in the 79th minute when Victorino, showing fine control and speed, brought up a solo run from around the centre line and ran through the Services defence to end a brilliant effort (3-2).
Finally, Tudu justified the undying tenacity of Services and made the most of another set-piece situation — a free-kick — to nod home the equaliser (3-3). Services, after having drawn Punjab 2-2, tallied two points after two matches while Goa, having a point and another match to play, saw its semifinal hopes almost disappearing.
Persisting with its giant-killing form Railways downed eight-time champion Punjab 2-1 in the other group ‘B' match and ensured a passage to the semfinals. Railways made sure its position on top of the group standings, with a match remaining.
Punjab took the lead off a 30th minute penalty scored by Navtej Singh.
Railways made the comeback in the second session with Antoni Soren finding the equaliser in the 59th minute. P.C. Riju scored the winner in the 68th minute.
After the second round Railways has six points, Services two while Punjab and Goa have one point each.
