Kolkata: Local challengers United Sports Club squandered points as they settled for a 2-2 draw against 10-men Sporting Clube de Goa in their return-leg I-League fixture at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday.
Sporting drew first blood when Ogba Kalu Nnanna put the team ahead in the 30th minute.
But the home team bounced back in style with second-half goals from James Singh (50th) and Bello Rasaq (53rd) to take a 2-1 lead.
There were more misery in store for the Goans who were reduced to 10 players minutes after conceding the lead, when Jovel Martins earned his second yellow to be sent off.
But just when Sanjoy Sen's wards were heading towards three points, Sudanese recruit James Moga restored parity with an 87th-minute goal.
United's title hopes got a rude jolt after the draw as they now have 29 points, while the Goan outfit have 24.
The Goans went into the lead early against the run of play when midfielder Kalu bulged the United SC net with a long ranger.
Before Sporting Clube could build on the advantage of their first-half lead, United SC restored parity just after the break.
Seasoned Singh did the finishing job in the 50th minute after he was released unmarked inside the Sporting Clube box by a fine pass from Brazilian Joshimar da Silva Martins.
United SC doubled their lead three minutes later when Sporting Clube defender Jovel Martins brought down Joshimar inside own box.
The resultant penalty was scored by Rasaq.
The home side looked certain to preserve the lead as Martins received his second booking in the 57th minute reducing Sporting Clube to 10 men.
But despite the numerical disadvantage, the visitors clawed back into the game and found the equaliser in the dying minutes through their Sudanese striker Moga.
Sporting midfielder Khan received a red card after the match for misbehaving with Manipur referee Singh.
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