Jaison helps FCBU snatch crucial draw

Bengaluru: Substitute striker Jaison

Vaz

made it 3-3 seconds before the final whistle to help FC Bengaluru United force a crucial draw against Madan Maharaj FC and stay alive in the I-League qualifiers at the Football Stadium here on Friday.The pre-tournament favourites were staring down the barrel four minutes into added time when substitute Jiten Murmu fired in from the edge of the box to put Maharaj 3-2 ahead. But Vaz helped his side snatch a point. It was

FCBU

's second straight draw in the four-team group. The Bengaluru side's bid to dominate the proceedings were undone by two errors, the first from a defender and the second from the ‘keeper as they trailed 0-2 in the second half with

Shubam Bhowmick

(13th, 52nd) netting both the goals. FCBU then clawed their way back thanks to seasoned campaigner

Sanju Pradhan

who made it 1-2 in the 69th minute. Arun Kumar pulled FCBU level when he made full use of Maharaj's poor defence to make the scoreline 2-2 before the drama unfolded in the five minutes of added time.Result: Group A: FC Bengaluru United 3 (Sanju Pradhan 69, Arun Kumar 81, Jaizon Vaz 90+6) drew with Madan Maharaj FC 3 (Shubam Bhowmick 13, 52; Jiten Murmu 90+4).Today's matches: Group B: Corbett FC vs Delhi FC (12.30 pm); ARA FC vs Kenkre Sports (3.45 pm).