by
Mumbai FC failed to score full points after Pailan Arrows had taken the lead in the first half and the home team replied through Yusif Yakubu just before the half-time as the Round 22 match ended in a draw at the Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium here on Friday.
Both the goals came through penalties—Milan Singh of Pailan Arrows getting the opener in the 26th minute, to which Yakubu replied with a penalty of his own in the 44th minute.
The draw meant that Mumbai FC will stay on at No 9 while Pailan will remain at No 11 after earning one point each.
The hosts had benched custodian Luis Barreto in favour of Kunal Sawant, while Yusif Yakubu started as a lone man up-front, supported by Gabriel Fernandes.
The game started slowly, with neither team really able to grab the initiative. With both teams largely cancelling each other out, goalmouth action was at a premium.
Slowly though, the away side took hold of the proceedings, and threatened from the wings, as Prabis Das, Holicharan Narzary and Shaiju Mon found plenty of joy against Faizal Rehman and Kamaljeet Kumar.
However they were only able to create half-chances, none of which were taken by Pailan Arrows.
They, however, were handed the initiative when Shouvik Ghosh was adjudged to have been brought down by Faizal Rehman, leading to a penalty in Arrows’ favour. Milan Singh duly stepped up and converted from the spot in the 26th minute.
Yusif Yakubu then came close to getting an equaliser, but his header went just wide of the goal.
Khalid Jamil’s side though, did get the leveler, when the referee pointed to the spot for Pritam Kotal’s handball, with Yakubu converting the penalty in the 44th minute, to make it 1-1.
The second half was no different as neither side able to create openings. Doungel was set free by Dhanpal Ganeshan, but the Justin Stephen made the tackle at the right time.
