Defending champions Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata played out a highly-entertaining 2-2 draw in their campaign opening match in the Indian Super League football here today.
In a fast-paced match at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, ATK took the lead in 59th minute through Sameehg Doutie.
But Chennaiyin struck back soon with goals from Jayesh Rana (66th) and Hans Mulder (70th).
The home side then restored parity through Ian Hume who scored from the spot in the 86th minute.
After a barren first half, both sides pressed for goals with open and attacking game and four goals were scored in the second session.
With two goals in the space of four minutes, it looked like that the Chennaiyin would tame the ATK at the latter’s den but somehow the home side found the equaliser with a penalty coming in their way which Hume converted.
Jerry Lalrinzuala committed a foul inside the box, bringing Sameehg Doutie down. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Hume stepped up to convert the penalty. The keeper dived to the right side but failed to get enough behind the ball to make the save.
ATK were the better side with more possession and more shots at the opposition goal but their forwards, including marquee player Helder Postiga and Hume himself, were unable to find the Chennaiyin net.
Luck also favoured Chennaiyin as their second goal was through a deflection from an ATK defender off a harmless-looking shot from Mulder.
Late in the match, Hume wasted at least two scoring chances before finding the Chennaiyin net from the spot.
For Chennaiyin, second half substitute Macpherlin Omagbemi missed a golden chance in the 83rd minute. Early in match, Chennaiyin marquee player John Arne Riise’s free kick deflected from a defender and ricocheted from the crossbar.