FC Goa were held to a 1–1 draw by Chennaiyin FC in a tightly contested encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Sunday evening.
After a cagey first half where both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances, the game came to life in the second period. The hosts struck first in the 48th minute of the second half through Irfan Yadwad, who capitalized on an attacking move to give Chennaiyin the lead and put the Gaurs on the back foot.
As the match entered its final quarter, FC Goa raised the intensity and began to take control of proceedings. The Gaurs pushed higher up the pitch, moved the ball with greater urgency, and started carving out openings in and around the Chennaiyin penalty area, signalling a strong push for an equaliser.
Their persistence paid off late in the match when captain Sandesh Jhingan rose highest in the 88th minute to head home from a well-delivered corner by Dejan Drazic, restoring parity for the visitors.
The late equaliser ensured the Gaurs walked away with a hard-earned point from a challenging away fixture. With a 12-day break ahead, FC Goa will now shift focus to their next assignment a return to Fatorda Stadium on April 4, where they will take on Bengaluru FC in front of the home crowd.
