Aizawl: Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chettri’s record-breaking strike denied Aizawl FC full points as the much-anticipated Hero I-League match ended in a 1-1 draw here, Wednesday.
Both goals were scored in the first half, within a span of five minutes. Brandon Vanlalremdika (40th minute) opened the goalmouth while Chhetri (45th) cancelled the home team’s lead at the stroke of half time.
Meanwhile, the goal added another feather in the talismanic striker’s hat as he leapfrogged Bhaichung Bhutia to score the most number of goals combining NFL and I-League. Bhutia had enjoyed the lead until Wednesday with 89 goals.
Bengaluru FC did no less scoring an equaliser just five minutes later when Chhetri received the ball and shot it straight into the top corner of the box from about 30 yards away.
Aizawl FC maintain their enviable unbeaten record at home in the ongoing season although Bengaluru FC halted their four-match winning streak at home.
Meanwhile, League leaders East Bengal dropped points at home for the second game in a row as they played out a 1-1 draw against Shillong Lajong at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri.
Fresh from a dour goalless draw against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, the red and gold brigade trailed by a Samuel Lalmuanpuia (20th minute) goal for 25 minutes before Willis Plaza (45th) restored parity.
The result saw East Bengal stay top of the table with 21 points from nine matches while Lajong moved to fourth with 13 points in their kitty from an identical number of matches. Aizawl FC remain third in the table with 17 points from nine matches while Bengaluru FC remain stranded at the fifth spot with 12 points playing one match less.
PTI
