By Minerva Academy FC Media

CHANDIGARH: Minerva Academy FC held Mohammedan Sporting Club to a 1-1 draw in a 2nd Division I-League match played at the Sector -17 Stadium in Chandigarh on Thursday.

Manvir Singh gave the home side a lead in the 7th minute before James Moga converted a penalty in the injury time of the 1st half to restore parity.

The home side started the match on a high note and pressed hard from the first whistle. They were rightly rewarded as early as in the 7th minute when Manvir beat the offside trap to put the ball into the net.

The domination continued for 15 odd minutes more during which a couple of scoring chances were created. But the Minervans failed to capitalised on those and literally slowed down in their pursuit for more goals.

Mohammedan SC meanwhile, having absorbed the initial pressure, were stringing some good moves together which troubled the Minervans. The Kolkata Giants by now were in the driving seat as they started dictating the match.

As they continued to put pressure on the home side, they were finally awarded a penalty at the brink of the half time whistle. James Moga made no mistake in putting the ball past the diving Arshdeep Singh.

The match went into the lemon break with the scoreline reading 1-1.

The second half began with Minervans coming all out in the attack, knowing the importance of three points.

First, it was Dilliram, introduced in place of Taranjit after the break, who ran down the left flank and dodge two defenders, before his inch-perfect cross was headed just inch above the woodwork.

In the 55th minute, Bala and Sehijpal played one-two between themselves before releasing Kamalpreet on the left. But the left back was little late on the ball as the goalkeeper reached first to clear the ball.

The attacks continued as Mohammedan SC also created few more chances. But the elusive goal never came from both sides as the match began to heat up.

James Moga was sent off in the 75th minute but Minervans couldn’t capitalised on the 1-man advantage as the two sides split the points. In the injury time, Kamalpreet was also sent off.