Mahindra rally to hold Fransa

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February 28, 2005 20:25 IST

Mahindra United came from behind to hold Fransa Pax to a 2-2 draw in a 11th round match of the National Football League, at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Monday.

Fransa scored through Benjamin Ansah (19th minute) and Sebastiao Endro (31st).

But the Mumbai side fought back and equalised through substitute S Venkatesh (33rd) and Rodrigo De Almeida (42nd).

The Man of the match was Fransa's Kalyan Chaubey, who effected good saves to deny
Mahindras victory.

Fransa went on the offensive from the start and surged ahead in the 19th minute.

Saikhom Singh gave a long lob to Benjamin Ansah, who controlled the ball, beat a defender and onrushing 'keeper Sandip Nandy before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Eleven minutes latter, they increased the lead.

Saikhom, instrumental in the first goal sent a cross to Joseph Ogor, who relayed the ball to better-placed Sebastiao Endro inside the box.

Unperturbed by the setback, Mahindra coach Syed Nayeemuddin replaced S Venkatesh with Jinto Jose which proved to be a masterstroke as the team dictated the midfield and reduced the margin in the 33rd minute when Venkatesh, from inside the box, beat keeper Kalyan Chubey with a fine placement off a pass from Flavio Rodrigues.

Two minutes latter, Rodrigues equalised with a powerful shot that hit the cross bar before finding the net.

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