A CAUTIOUS goalless first half. A fast-paced second session. Two goals. Two red-card suspensions. A serious injury. And an exciting draw. That’s how the match between two champion sides can be summed up. Former five-time title holders Rabbani Club, Kamptee came from behind to hold defending champions Rahul Sankrutyayan Sports Association to a 1-1 draw in their third round JSW-NDFA Elite Division League match on Thursday at Dr BR Ambedkar Football Stadium in Suyog Nagar, north Nagpur. Anurag Solanki had given Rahul SSA lead in the 65th min but Rabbani’s Mohd Sohel negated it with an 86th min equaliser as both teams walked away with one point each from the match. After three matches, both the teams are placed at fourth and fifth positions respectively on points table. The encounter witnessed some excellent defending from both the teams which resulted in a goalless first half. Rabbani’s Mohd Imran-ur Rehman, Mohd Rehan, Mohd Faisal and Mohd Gulam Imran while Rahul SSA’s heavily-built Sagar Chintala, Anuj Gorey, agile Rahul Neware and quick-on feet Aabid Sheikh were on their toes for the entire duration of match.

 

They created a beautiful parallel defence line to create several off-sides not giving the rival forwards any chance to breach the wall. The only slip-up in Rabbani’s defence in the 65th minute resulted in the Kamptee based side conceding a goal. Rahul SSA’s defender Aabid Ali was too fast as he moved from right and crossed a long ball inside the small ‘D’. Rabbani goalkeeper Mohammad Mohtashim failed to narrow down the angle for Solanki who sent the ball into the left corner of the net. With a goal down, Rabbani increased their attacks and tested Rahul’s defence on a few occasions. They succeeded in levelling the scores four minutes before the end of regulation time when Mohd Moiz Kamal drilled a low shot on the top of the rectangle from left which Mohd Sohel collected easily. The striker managed to beat Chintala and executed a powerful right footer to the far left corner of the post beating Rahul SSA’s lanky goalkeeper Shubham Kanojiya. Earlier in the match, Kanojiya used his height to perfection, collecting the aerial balls easily. The match saw two red cards.

 

With a goal down, Rabbani played an aggressive game which resulted in Mohd Faisal getting direct marching orders from referee Mohd Kaleem for intentionally tripping Rahul SSA’s forward Badal Soren in the 86th minute. Rahul midfielder Valerian Paul was sent off for a double-yellow. He handled the ball in the 60th minute for his first booking and then got another in the 89th minute for dangerous play resulting in a red card. Both the players will miss their next matches. There was an injury scare in Rabbani camp as well. The first choice goalkeeper Mohtashim injured himself in the later part of second half while going for a save and was replaced by the reserve goalkeeper. Later, forward Mohd Hanzala fell awkwardly and injured his right hand and could not participate in the remaining part of the match. On Friday: MOIL XI vs Nagpur Academy at 2.30 pm.