Resilient Neroca deny Chennai City a win at home in I-League

Neroca FC came back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Chennai City FC in a Hero I-League clash at JLN Stadium on Saturday. Following draw, Chennai City remain seventh on table with five points while Neroca FC stay one place below with four points. Chennai City FC started game on a positive te with dominating possession from onset. y started with an unchanged line-up from match against Aizawl FC as trio of Fito, Pedro Manzi and Sandro were unavailable for match.

After launching attacks relentlessly on Neroca goal for first 25 minutes, it seemed Neroca's defence would hold on till end of half, but eventually, y faltered.  It was Katsumi Yusa who was fouled by a Neroca defender inside box and Chennai got a golden chance to go ahead. In 26th minute, Katsumi Yusa stepped up to take penalty and converted chance with finesse to hand Chennai a 1-0 lead.  

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With clock striking 32 minutes, a beautifully built up play from back and an inch-perfect cross into box by Jockson Dhas found Mashoor Shereef inside box, who didn't make any mistake and headed ball into goal from close to double Chennai's lead. It was w up to Neroca to make a comeback before y head into half-time. Both coaches made some changes within first half as Neroca brought on Gaty Kouami on for his compatriot Yawo Zico. Chennai coach Akbar Nawas brought in Ranjeet Singh for young Bijay Chhetri. With Chennai City poised to go into second half with a two-goal lead, Neroca FC struck in 45+3rd min with a header from under-22 midfielder Khaiminthang Lhungdim. 

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score at half-time stood at 2-1 in favour of Chennai City. Neroca stepped up pressure on Chennai after change of ends. Even after playing a more pressing game Neroca wasn't able to break defence, but a careless mistake by Chennai defence lead to a foul inside box on Boubacar Diarra and a penalty was awarded. Diarra himself stepped up and scored from spot-kick to level score at 2-2 with clock ticking 65 minutes.

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Chennai were t ready to let it go and switched gear but ne were able to edge past Neroca captain and keeper Marvin Devon Phillip.  In 82nd minute, Chennai launched a counter-attack and a perfect cross from right-wing for Chennai ended at feet of Katsumi but he couldn't control ball and chance went begging. Within a few moments, Katsumi again found himself one-on-one with Neroca keeper but this time Phillip came out victorious.  Phillip had a couple of heart-in--mouth situations but hosts were t able to exploit those situations.  In 90th minute, Neroca made ir final change to ensure that score stays same as defender Dhananjoy Singh replaced Siam Hanghal and mand to hold on as match ended in a 2-2 draw

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