ONGC rallies to hold Sporting to 1-1 draw

ONGC capitalised on the advantage of Sporting Clube de Goa being reduced to 10-member side as they came from behind to hold the hosts to a 1-1 draw and split points in the 22nd round of the I-League at Duler Stadium here today.
The hosts took the lead in the 20th minute through Dawson Fernandes but ONGC's Hassan Odeola scored the valuable equaliser in the 77th minute.
Sporting Clube de Goa now has 30 points from 22 matches and remain at the sixth spot, while ONGC took their tally to 29 points from as many games.
Sporting, who came into the match with impressive record of remaining unbeaten in their last five matches after their new Spanish coach Bruzon took over, made their intention clear from the very beginning.

They made early inroads into the rival half and took the lead in the 20th minute with Fernandes striking the goal off a cross from Juanfri from the left.
ONGC, who are also playing well under their new coach Santosh Kashyap, did not lose hope as they regrouped to launch attack into the opposition's net. But they found the defence, led by Spanish Angel Berlanga, a tough nut to crack.

The only chance they came close in finding the equaliser in the first half was in the 31st minute when Jatin Bisht's long-ranger hit the wood work.
ONGC looked a better side in the second half though, and also took advantage when Sporting were reduced to 10 men in the 69th minute with defender Samanand Singh getting a second yellow card.

ONGC restored parity in the 77th minute when defender Pawinder Singh, who took the corner, floated the ball into the goal mouth for Hassan Odeola, who shot home from close.
Thereafter despite efforts put in by both the teams, neither side was able to score, which resulted in the match ending in a draw.