Raghu's late strike helps ASC hold ADE

Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Army Service Corps (ASC) played out a 1-1 draw in a tightly contested game of the BDFA Super Division league at the Bangalore Football stadium on Friday.  

ADE, after their second draw, have five points from as many matches while ASC have five points from four games after being held for the second time in the league. Rajkiran struck for ADE in the opening minute of the added time in the first half. Raghu Kumar converted a penalty to equalise for ASC in the 82nd minute. 

ASC adopted an aggressive approach in the early stages of the game. Nitesh Barailly’s shot from the edge of the box went wide in the sixth minute, and in the 20th minute, Aroj Saikh went clear on a through ball from Ganga Bahadur but failed to score past ADE custodian Mark Mascarenhas. 

ADE had their first chance of the game when Manivannan ‘s right-footer flew over the crosspiece in the 29th minute. Both teams had their moments in the remaining 15 minutes but struggled to apply finishing touch. Just when the game was heading towards a goalless first half, Rajkiran produced a shot from the left and ASC custodian Shantanu Kar messed up a regulation save to give ADE a 1-0 lead. 

Second half saw ASC attacking through Sreejith, Jotin Singh and Barailly in their bid to come back into the game. Barailly banged in a header from a Bahadur pass in the 57th minute that went over the crosspiece. Raghu Kumar saved the day for ASC in the 82nd minute when he converted a penalty awarded after Ashok Kumar was brought down inside the box by ADE’s Sunil Kumar. Sunil was sent off after a second yellow card. He had earlier received a yellow for a rough tackle on Sreejith in the 51st minute. 

ASC looked desperate for a win while ADE defended in the dying minutes as the match ended in a stalemate. 

Other result: ‘A’ Division: LRDE: 0 drew with SAI: 0.