Former champions Salgaocar Sports Club squandered winning opportunities and had to be content with 1-1 draw against Fransa Pax in the ONGC Cup 10th National Football league match at the Duler ground in Mapusa, Goa, on Wednesday.
Salgaocar could have won outright had they utilised the gilt-edged opportunities that came their way in the first half.
Both the goals came in the second session.
Saikchom Shanta Singh scored in the 61st minute to put Fransa ahead, while Salgaocar's Samson Singh equalised in the 68th minute.
Following the draw, Salgaocar increased their points tally to six from seven outings, while Fransa remain at the bottom with three points from six outings.
Salgoacar's Agnelo Colaco was adjudged man of the match.
It was a tale of missed chances for both teams in the first session, in which Salgaocar had an edge.
Salgaocar came up with the first good move in the 12th minute when Fabio dos Possos, on the left flank, gave a pass to Jerose Oliveira, whose attempted efforts missed the mark narrowly.
Fransa, too, had a chance to move ahead in the 33rd minute, but Mohammed Nizam's header went wide following a flag-kick by Roque Barreto.
Six minutes later, Salgaocar's Bruno Oliveira unleashed a power-packed 25-yard shot, which crashed into the cross bar.
Fransa shot into the lead in the 61st minute through Shanta Singh, whose 20-yard shot found the net.
Stung by the reverse, Salgaocar stepped up the pace and restored the parity in the 68th minute through Samson Singh off a pass from Possos.