Indian Air Force football team (IAFFT) produced a fine turnaround with an equaliser in the final minute of the added time to hold tournament debutant South United FC 3-3 in a Group-A league match of the 134th Durand Cup tournament at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday.
Young striker Makakmayum Daniel completed a hat-trick giving South United the lead twice in the match but the IAFFT side mounted a great fightback to snatch a point in the end.
The 18-year-old Daniel found the target in the ninth and 23rd minutes to give South United a two-goal lead before Mohammad Aqib (26th minute) and Akish Cyril (48th) struck in tandem to get IAFFT back in action. Daniel scored his third goal in the 84th minute with a spectacular volley but IAFFT defender Sankit nodded home the equaliser in the final minute of the action to spoil South United’s party.
Earlier, Indo Tibetan Border Police football team (ITBPFT) edged past a 10-man local side Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC 2-1 in the Group-D league opener at the SAI Stadium, Kokrajhar.
Lunminlen Haokip gave the Karbi Anglong side the lead but ITBPFT fought back well and scored twice through Pulung Diamary and Hemraj Bhujel to secure the full quota of points. Karbi Anglong MS was reduced to 10 men in the 23rd minute when its Ghanaian centre-back Ben Nash Quansh received a direct red card for a reckless challenge.
The result:
Group-A (Kolkata): South United FC 3 (Makakmayum Daniel 9, 23, 84) drew with Indian Air Force FT 3 (Md. Aqib 26, Akish Cyril 48, Sankit 90+6).
Group-D (Kokrajhar): ITBP FT 2 (Pulung 45 Daimary, Hemraj Bhujel 60) bt Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC 1 (Lunminlen Haokip 30).