A stoppage time goal from Nadong Bhutia offered Real Kashmir a lifeline in its pursuit of a coveted I-League berth as it played out a draw 2-2 with TRAU FC in their I-League 2nd Division League final round encounter on Sunday at the FSV arena in Bengaluru.
TRAU had plenty of first-half possession but was unable to conjour up a decent chance. Real Kashmir played a tight defensive line and did well to not offer any space in front of its penalty box and forced TRAU to take shots from range.
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Real Kashmir took a first-half lead through Ritwik Kumar Das in the 38th minute as he in a cross from Danish Farooq to put his side ahead. However, the goal spurred TRAU on and the side began attacking with intensity. TRAU missed a myriad of late chances in the final minutes of the first half, but a series of horrid misses and some sparkling saves from Sukhwinder kept them at bay and the scoreline read 1-0 at half-time.
TRAU raced out of the blocks after the break and Reisangmei Vashum should have done better in the 47th minute when running onto a cross, but his first-time shot went wide. Princewill fired another effort over the bar before Malemnganba forced Sukhwinder into a smart save.
TRAU was rewarded for its persistence in the 63rd minute when Princewill got the game on level terms with a long-range strike.
Real Kashmir keeper Sukhwinder did well to man the posts but despite his best efforts Angousana, who came on as substitute, slotted a free-kick home in the 88th minute to give his side the lead.
Just when TRAU thought it had won the match, Nadong scored in stoppage time to steal a share of the points.
TRAU will take on Ozone FC next on Wednesday in a dead-rubber before Real Kashmir and Hindustan FC face off in the last match to determine which team will play the I-League next season.
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