Chirag hold Mahindra, lead I-League table

Mohammed Rafi scored two goals but Kolkata's Chirag United came from behind on both the occasion to earn a 2-2 draw in their I-League fifth round clash against Mahindra United at the Cooperage ground on Tuesday.

Rafi struck in both the halves - first ten minutes before the opening period, and then in the 60th minute after Josimar Da Silva Martins had equalised for the Kolkata outfit four minutes earlier.

But Bralizian striker Martins found the target again in the 78th to help his team earn a draw and go to the top of the league table with eleven points.

Rafi gave Mahindra the lead in the 35th minute by heading in a cross from Paresh Shivalkar on the left wing.

Martins produced the first equaliser when his shot went in past a fumbling Mahindra custodian Subashish Roy Choudhary, eleven minutes into the second half.

Rafi put Mahindra again in front by volleying home in brilliant style a pass from India medio Steven Dias.

But Martins, taking advantage of a sloppy Mahindra defence, got the second equaliser after Malswamtulunga beat two defenders and chipped into the goalmouth for the Brazilian to head home past Roy.

Rafi was declared man of the match.