Minerva Punjab hold DSK Shivajians 4-4 in a thriller

Minerva Punjab staged a spectacular fightback to share the spoils with hosts DSK Shivajians in a 4-4 thriller in the I-League here today.

The home side went into this game making five changes. Soirem Anganba, Sasa Kolunija, Shane McFaul, Sanu Pradhan and Jerry Mawihmingthanga were replaced by Abhishek Das, Sairuat Kima, Vanlalremkima, Kim Seong Yong and Gouramangi Singh respectively.

For Minerva, David Ngaihte, Fanai Lalrempuia, Singh and Manandeep sat this game out while Moinuddin, Kamalpreet Singh, S Das and Sangwan made it to the first eleven.

The start couldn't have been worse for the Punjab side, who conceded a gola in the 10 minute. Kim Seong Yong beat the off-side trap to finish home with a delicate shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
 

Minerva's defence had trouble holding the DSK Shivajains' attack in check with chances for Lallianzuala Chhangte, Juan Quero and Kim Seong Yong throughout the half.

Kim, who rounded the keeper and guided it home, would then double the lead. Juan Quero cut infield from the left and let rip a stunner into the top corner of the Minerva goal to make it 3-0.

The first signs of a comeback by Minerva Punjab surfaced in the 49th minute when Khosla won and converted his penalty, conceded by Gourmangi Singh.

3-1 became 3-2 just 20 minutes later, when Victor Amobi's run into the box saw him pass the ball to Khosla, who scored his second of the evening with a neat finish into the bottom corner.

Vanlalremkima added his first and DSK Shivajians' fourth onto the scoresheet.

Arshdeep rushed out to nullify a quick dart into the box by Chettri but the right back dinked the ball over the keeper. Though the initial effort was saved, the rebound was finished with finesse by the DSK man.

However, proceedings soon took a tumble for the worse for the hosts. First, Amobi scored the third goal for the away side, when he latched onto a cross that Das and Kima in DSK's defense miss. A cool and composed finish resulted in the Punjab-based side having their spirits raised.

Then in the 94th minute, they found the equaliser. Simranjeet Singh controlled the last kick of the game, a lofted pass into the box. DSK's offside trap failed miserably, as the Minerva forward first controlled well and then was left with the cheekiest of finishes to level his team on the scoreline.