Siliguri Sep 21 (IANS) Sporting Clube de Goa made a spectacular comeback to hold last year's runners-up East Bengal 1-1 in the second Group C league match of the Federation Cup at the Kanchenjungha Stadium here Friday.
East Bengal played with 10 men in the last few minutes of the action when midfielder Mehtab Hossain was sent off with a red card in the 85th minute.
A spell of heavy rain just before the start of the match had a telling effect on the game. Sporting Clube took time to adjust to the slushy conditions while East Bengal were comparatively more comfortable.
East Bengal made a positive start and were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty in the sixth minute. Edeh Chidi made no mistake from the spot.
Sporting Clube began the hunt for the equaliser and opened up their game on the flanks. Cameroonian striker Bertrand Bong missed couple of sitters in the 30th and 50th minute.
The visitors kept on plugging and found the equaliser in the 81st minute when Victorino Fernandes, who replaced Dawson Fernandes, found the back of East Bengal net following a fine solo effort.
East Bengal's hopes of regaining the lead were extinguished when Hossain was given his marching orders, after earning his second yellow card of the match.
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