New Delhi, Jamshedpur FC’s Serbian midfielder Nikola Stojanović struck a late equaliser to help his side salvage a 1-1 draw against Sporting Club Delhi in an Indian Super League match, though the result dented their bid to go top of the table due to the dropped points here.
Joseph Sunny gave the home side the lead in the 21st minute, but it was cancelled out by Stojanović in the 90th minute as Jamshedpur FC breathed a sigh of relief at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in a late-evening match on Thursday.
Jamshedpur FC remain second in the standings with 13 points, while SC Delhi moved to 12th with two points.
Nora Fernandes, the SC Delhi goalkeeper, was called into action early as he thwarted a long cross free-kick from Stojanović in the third minute, punching the ball clear at the last moment.
Both sides started aggressively, with SC Delhi midfielder Ousmane Fané testing Albino Gomes from distance, before Rei Tachikawa’s long-range effort was comfortably saved at the other end by Nora Fernandes.
The home side took the lead in the 21st minute when a cross from SC Delhi captain Lamgoulen Semkholun was weakly punched by Gomes inside the penalty area. After a slight fumble by striker Matija Babović, Sunny pounced on the loose ball and fired a left-footed shot into the top-left corner to put Delhi ahead.
Stojanović continued to threaten from set-pieces, narrowly missing the target with a direct free-kick in the 18th minute before setting up Pronay Halder, whose header was blocked for a corner.
The second half began under heavy rainfall, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances.
Jamshedpur FC continued to push for an equaliser, with Stojanović later named Player of the Match forcing a save from Nora Fernandes in the 81st minute as the visitors ramped up the pressure in the closing stages.
The breakthrough finally came with just 90 seconds remaining in regulation time, when Stojanović struck from outside the box. His effort took the slightest of deflections before sneaking in at the near post to level the scores.
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