Nagpur Academy Football Club (NAFC) started poorly but ended the game brilliantly. From 1-3 down in first 45 minutes, they rallied outstandingly to draw the match 3-3 and snatch a point from newly-promoted Manganese Ore India Limited XI (MOIL) in the third round league match of the ongoing JSW-NDFA Elite Division Championship at Dr BR Ambedkar Football Stadium in Suyog Nagar, north Nagpur on Friday evening.

It was the inexperience of playing in the top division that cost the miners full three points as they failed to hold a healthy two-goal lead and conceded as many in space of eight minutes to draw the match which was in their grasp for more than an hour.

NAFC’s energetic striker Abhishek Doifode was the saviour for his side as he scored two goals (28th and 67th mins), one in each half.

MOIL XI surprised all with three quick goals in space of 10 minutes. Sachin Nonhare (24th, 39th mins) and Aman Kathote (34th) found ample of space in NAFC defence to surge ahead.

However, Doifode pulled one back for NAFC in the 28th minute as MOIL walked into the dressing room with a 3-1 lead at half-time. But they were completely a changed side in the second half playing an aggressive and attacking game. Their relentless attacks on MOIL citadel resulted in Doifode reducing the margin in the 67th minute. A calculated aerial ball from the left inside the box by Mehul Sendram was beautifully headed by Doifode to the far corner of MOIL post with goalkeeper Bappa Mondal, who was substituted in the first half itself with Suraj Saiyyam, failing to clear it. NAFC got more confidence with the second goal even as MOIL XI, playing in Elite Division for the first time, crumbled under pressure.

Their defence was in tatters with NAFC forwards and midfielders crowding their rectangle for most part of the second half.

The barrage of attacks, some of which were thwarted by MOIL custodian Mondal, gave more hope to NAFC who finally succeeded in scoring the third goal in the 75th minute.

Sendram, running from the left fired in an aerial ball inside the small ‘D’ which was well collected by Doifode who then passed it to an unmarked Arshad Ghanchi who headed it to the corner of the post to make it 3-3.

MOIL still had chances in the dying minutes and in the added four minutes but they NAFC players guarded their citadel for any further damage. A last minute open net chance was wasted by Hariom Kumre who shot wide of the post.

On Saturday: YMFC vs Big Ben at 2.30 pm.