Bengaluru FC snatch late draw against NorthEast United after 92nd-minute equaliser

KOLKATA: Back home after their first away game that brought them their first draw, NorthEast United could not get back to winning ways as a 92nd equaliser from Bengaluru FC youngster Vinith Venkatesh deprived them of a victory through a Jithin MS opener.The Highlanders, however, stayed unbeaten and on top of the table with eight points from four matches while Bengaluru moved up to third spot with seven points from three matches.At the pre-match press conference, Juan Pedro Benali spoke about the team “mentality” being the biggest positive from the matches so far.And that mentality and connection among the NEUFC teammates were in showcase when the Highlanders broke the deadlock in the 15th minute.It started with Gurmeet making a save to a Ryan Murphy corner and led to a counter-attack from the hosts. After the clearance from Jithin fell into the path of Ajaraie, he made a speedy run down the middle and sent a through to Gonzalez who, in turn, sent itto Jithin inside the box. The NEUFC playmaker beat one Bengaluru defender with a dummy and sent a swerving, left-footed shot between the other two and beyond the reach of Gurpreet at the goal.Bengaluru, who maintained almost two-thirds of the possession in the first half, did not get frustrated and continued their well-built attacks inside the NEUFC half. One such attack, in the 22nd minute, saw a contentious decision from the referee when a BoraMartinez cross from the left corner got deflected by the hand of Nikhil Barla in an ‘unnatural position’. But no penalty was given to the frustration of the Bengaluru players.Barla and Abdul Rabeeh, the two NEUFC fullbacks, kept playing a crucial role for the hosts in curtailing the attacks from the flanks by Aashique Kuruniyan, Ryan Williams and Martinez.NEUFC, continuing with their counter-attacks, had two quick chances to increase the lead through their Moroccan talisman Ajaraie. The first saw him send a shot high and wide from in front of the goal after a Jithin pass followed by a brilliant backheel fromGonzalez.The next one, three minutes later, was preceded by a delightful nutmeg on Lalremtluanga Fanai followed by a powerful shot from outside the box that was easily saved by veteran Gurpreet at the near post.Bengaluru had eight corners, five of them towards the end of the first half, with Williams and Martinez, using their right and left feet, respectively, in search of an equaliser, but in vain.Both coaches kept their starting XI intact at the change of ends as Bengaluru kept up their attacks into the NEUFC half with the hosts staying deeper and resorting more to defence and creating less counter-attacks.Jose Munez, on the other hand, resorted to the services and experience of Sunil Chhteri in the 73rd minute while Benali was forced to substitute the exceptional Jithin to an injury as he gave local favourite Parthib Gogoi his 100th appearance for the club.However, it was the veteran on field who was at the right place when Gurmeet, brilliant at the NEUFC goal throughout the game, faltered in collecting a ball and Chhetri was there to recover it and send it in the path of substitute Vinith Venkatesh for the crucial equaliser.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.