Thaindian News

Kolkata, Jan 28 (IANS) A 10-man Sporting Clube de Goa held home favourite Prayag United SC 2-2 in an I-League football encounter marred by frayed tempers here Saturday.

While Ogba Kalu and James Moga scored for the Goans, James Singh and Bello Rassaq found the target for the local side in the Salt Lake Stadium game that saw two players get their marching orders.

Both sides came into the match riding on the confidence of winning their previous round matches. The Goa side found the lead early against the run of play when midfielder Kalu found the Prayag net with a long ranger at the stroke of the half-hour mark.

Before Sporting Clube could build on the advantage of their first-half lead, United SC restored parity just after the break. Seasoned James Singh did the finishing in the 50th minute after he was released unmarked inside the Sporting Clube box by a fine pass from Brazilian Joshimar Da Silva.

Prayag doubled their lead three minutes later when Sporting Clube defender Jovel Martins brought down Joshimar inside own box. The resultant penalty was scored by the Prayag centre-back Bello Rasaq.

The home side looked certain to preserve the lead as Martins received his second booking in the 57th minute reducing Sporting Clube to 10 men. But despite the numerical disadvantage the visitors clawed back into the game and found the equaliser in the 86th minute thanks to their Sudanese striker James Moga.

Sporting midfielder Adil Khan received a red card after the match for misbehaving with referee Magho Singh. The drawn result had Prayag totalling 29 points from 17 rounds while Sporting Clube had 24 points from 17 matches.