New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Hosts Rajasthan United were held to a 1-1 draw by Mumbai Kenkre in a sixth-round match of the I-League here on Wednesday.
In a game which livened up only in the second half, it was Mumbai Kenkre’s Aman Gaikwad who put his team ahead before it was cancelled out by Rajasthan United’s Kyrgyz midfielder Bektur Amangeldiev.
The match began at a slow pace with both teams trying hard to find the rhythm. Rajasthan United controlled the proceedings as they tried to build the attack from the back, while Kenkre relied on a long ball strategy.
The hosts received a few set-pieces in the opening minutes. However, they couldn’t create any chances.
Midway through the half, the game started to open up and it was Rajasthan United, who saw more of the attacks.
In the 25th minute, Amangeldiev lobbed the ball for Shaiborlang Kharpan, who made an intelligent run behind the Kenkre defence, but shot wide.
Two minutes later, Rajasthan captain Martin Chaves went closest to breaking the deadlock. A cross from Hardik Bhatt was headed well by Chaves, but his effort was inches away from the target.
In the attacking third, skipper Chaves and Joseba Beitia were all over the pitch for the Desert Warriors.
The midfield duo created several chances for their attackers.
The second half began with the visitors taking the lead within seven minutes.
The Rajasthan defence was caught napping as Aravindraj Rajan whipped a cross into the six-yard box with Aman meeting it correctly to find the net.
A minute later, the hosts almost equalised, when Chaves received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and chipped it for Kharpan, who had just the goalkeeper to beat.
As Kharpan delayed in taking the shot, Kenkre goalkeeper Tenzin Samdup charged out to deny Rajasthan a certain goal.
The Desert Warriors equalised in the 74th minute.
A curling cross from William P found Amangeldiev inside the box and the Kyrgyz midfielder finished calmly to put his team on level.
Source: PTI News
