Pradeep helps India draw against Chinese Taipei

A brace by midfielder N P Pradeep helped India hold Chinese Taipei 2-2 in their second and final football friendly tie against in Chennai on Tuesday.

The tournament is part of India's preparation for the South Asian Football Federation Championship to be held in the Maldives and Sri Lanka next month. In the first friendly in Goa on Saturday, India had defeated the visitors 3-0.

Taipei shot into the lead in the fourth minute when Po-Liang-Chen sent in a left footer from inside the box after the ball bounced back off the post.

Indian players, particularly captain Baichung Bhutia, then made frequent forays into the rival citadel.

Following a counter attack in the 40th minute, Bhutia exhibited class in his one-two dribbles in midfield and then lobbed the ball near the goal to Pradeep, whose looping header found the net for the equaliser.

Eight minutes later, Meng-Hsuan-Hsies put Taipei in the lead again.

The Indians managed to control the game and held on to the ball, but could not taste success as Taipei defenders regrouped well to thwart their chances.

However, an opportunistic goal in the 70th minute by Pradeep helped India draw the game.

Taipei is ranked lower than India in the FIFA rankings.