Hindustan FC recovered from three goals down to hold hosts Real Kashmir FC to a shocking 3-3 draw in the clash of table toppers in the second division I-League match at Synthetic Turf TRC Ground here on Saturday.
The second half heroics of Hindustan FC earned the visiting side a thrilling 3-3 draw after trailing Real Kashmir FC by 3-0 for most part of the game. It was classic comeback from the visitors when no one expected it to happen.
The game ended with tempers flaring from both ends as referee intervened and showed couple of cards to bring game into order.
It was game of table toppers in the group with Real Kashmir trailing Hindustan FC by two points on points table. When they thought they would earn an outright easy win, Hindustan FC comeback to hand them a 3-3 shock draw.
The match started with Real Kashmir in command from the word go. It was the game that Real Kashmir wanted to finish on winning note and score one point lead over their closest rival.
The plan started to work for the hosts as Kouassi Yao gave them lead in fifth minute of the game. It was the momentum that Real Kashmir needed and they started to dominate the match with flurry of attacks. Real Kashmir was playing brilliant football looking set to dominate the game and go on to top the table. Hindustan FC was forced to defend for most of the time and they hardly had any impact at other end of the field. With game being played mostly in Hindustan FC half, Atinder Mani made it 2-0 in favor of Real Kashmir with calm finish. They could have made it 3-0 in first half but missed to put ball in net. At half time Real Kashmir was leading by 2-0 with the confidence of going on top of the table.
In second half, Real Kashmir started from where they had left in first half and went on to score third goal. This time it was local boy Ifham Tariq Mir who scored a brilliant goal in 57 minute of the game. It made score line 3-0 in favor Real Kashmir.
With three goals lead it looked like Real has sealed the fate of the match with only around 33 minutes left in the play. Just only two minutes later, a casual defending cost Real Kashmir heavily as Pawan Pratap Singh scored first goal for Hindustan FC in 59th minute. They succeeded in creating pressure and Real Kashmir players looked like lost. They started to make silly mistakes and this time it was goalkeeper who was at the helm of affairs. He made foul on charging striker of Hindustan FC in penalty area. Referee issued the card to keeper and then penalty to the visitors. Pushpender Kundu took that and made score 3-2. From being 3-0 to 3-2, Real Kashmir were being pushed to wall with Hindustan FC in charge. Real Kashmir made change trying to strengthen its defense. However that proved futile with Amestrong Alexandre scoring the third goal for Hindustan FC and leveling the score.
Despite snatching the victory from home side Real Kashmir, spectators stood up and praised the visitors on the leveler. In the remaining time both teams tried desperately to score all important winning goal but couldn’t find the net. Last moments of game were flared up by ill temper with visitors obviously trying to waste time. That resulted in referee showing card to two players of Hindustan FC. Match ended with 3-3 scoreline. With this draw Hindustan FC kept their two point lead intact at points table.
Both teams are unbeaten so far in the group but with one more win under its belt Hindustan FC have got two points lead. Hindustan FC has 15 points from seven matches while as Real Kashmir has 13 points from same number of matches.
Meanwhile, Lone Star Kashmir FC another I-League level club of Kashmir will be playing against Delhi United FC on Sunday.