Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore, held former Durand Cup winners Mahindra United, Mumbai, to a 1-1 draw in a seventh National Football League match at the Cooperage in Mumbai on Friday.
Both the teams were desperate for a win but poor finishing and haphazard passing resulted in the teams picking just a solitary point.
However, full credit should go to the Bangalore outfit for coming back into the match after being reduced to ten men just before half-time.
ITI midfielder Seth Osei got a red card after he brought down Mahindra defender and skipper Debjit Ghosh.
The first 35 minutes of the match failed to produce any worthwhile moves from either team. In the 36th minute Mahindra striker Mongba Aby Samson's header just missed the mark off mid-fielder R P Singh's cross.
Two minutes later winger Ednei Jose Damasio was bang on target off medio L James Singh's lob to put the local outfit ahead.
Soon after ITI's winger Najeeb shot straight to Mahindra custodian S Rajan from close range.
The visitors played better in the second-half though in the 52nd minute their striker Jude Nawada hit out a James Singh [ITI also have a James Singh] pass from close range.
Three minutes later Mahindra winger Peter Strandel shot over an L James Singh pass.
James Singh himself scored the equaliser for ITI following a goal-mouth melee in the 63rd minute.
With just 13 minutes to go for the final whistle ITI defender Niaz Rehman, who played his heart out, effected a goalline save after Damasio's header following a flag-kick beat the rest of the defence.
Mahindra United have seven points from nine matches while ITI are still at the bottom of the table.
