Nestor Jesus Gordillo fetched a late equaliser to help Chennai City FC hold host Mohun Bagan to a 1-1 draw in a Hero I-League fixture here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
The result ensured CCFC continued its unbeaten run while snatching a point from Bagan to extend its lead in the current standings.
CCFC now has 17 points from seven matches, while Mohun Bagan has netted nine points from six matches.
CCFC could not be as dominant as in its previous games as Bagan produced a better performance and secured the lead through Sony Norde in the early part of the second half.
Coming alive
Refusing to be bogged down, CCFC came alive in the final quarter of the action when it scored the equaliser through Gordillo and created at least two more chances that could have secured it the sixth win.
The host began on a strong note and created a chance in the 12th minute when Henry Kisseka set up Pintu Mahata with a nice pull-back at the centre of the CCFC box.
The Mohun Bagan attacker let fly a powerful right footer but the goalkeeper Nauzet Santana showed good anticipation in blocking the shot.
Within a minute, Omar El Husseiny was again located on the CCFC goalmouth but the Egyptian midfielder could not control his shot which went over.
Spectacular goal
Bagan realised the lead in the 50th minute when Norde capped a solo effort to finish with a spectacular shot which saw the ball curling into the top corner past a hapless Santana.
Trying to regroup, CCFC got its first clear opportunity in the 74th minute when its Spanish midfielder Sandro Rodriguez saw his attempt coming off the upright.
Finally, Gordillo found the target in the 82nd minute when the Spanish winger collected a long floater from his compatriot Roberto Eslava and produced a clinical finishing past the Bagan custodian Sankar Roy.
Encouraged by the equaliser, CCFC went in search for more but the upright came in the way again to block Sandro’s shot in the injury time.
The reuslt:
Mohun Bagan 1 (Sony Norde 50) drew with Chennai City FC 1 (Nestor Jesus Gordillo 82).