AGENCIES

NEW DELHI: ONGC put behind the disappointment of two losses to pick up their first points of their I-League football campaign when they played out a 1-1 draw with Prayag United at Ambedkar Stadium, here, Friday. ONGC led 1-0 at half time.

medium; text-align: justify; ">ONGC forged ahead when Eric Brown curled in a free kick in the 36^th minute. ONGC could have doubled their lead but Japanese striker Yusa Katsumi blasted wide from close.

Much of the pre-match focus was on Prayag’s Costa Rican player Carlos Hernandez but the ONGC defence made sure he was left with no space to do anything before he was finally substituted by Kayne Vincent.

It could have been all three points for ONGC had it not been for Ranti Martins' goal in the 88^th minute off a Lester Fernandes cross. This was the Nigerian striker's 150^th I-League goal.

As if the equalizer wasn't a blow enough, ONGC lost Brown who got the marching orders after a second bookable offence.

There was one last chance for ONGC to seal the game but Katsumi's tap, after beating Pal, agonizingly hit the post.