Atletico de Kolkata and Chennaiyin FC played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. All the goals were scored in the second half with the home side's Sameehg Doutie scoring first.
The defending champions hit back with two goals in the space of 10 minutes through Jayesh Rane and Hans Mulder. Kolkata got a penalty in the 82nd minute, which was converted by Iain Hume, who became the joint top scorer in the ISL with 17 goals, level with Stiven Mendoza.
It was Chennaiyin who started on the front foot and were busy customers in the Kolkata territory. The home side were tentative and were lucky to have not gone behind during this spell. John Arne Riise came closest to score during this period, and saw one of his trademark left-foot thunderbolts thump the underside of the crossbar.
Kolkata steadily gained a foothold in the contest through their wingers, who were making surging runs into the box. Borja Fernandez, Javi Lara, along with forwards Helder Postiga and Iain Hume were posing uncomfortable questions to the Chennayin backline, who just about held on till the half-time break.
Kolkata looked dangerous after coming back from the tunnel and went ahead through a well worked counter-attack, which saw Postiga and Hume combining well once again, and Doutie was sent through on goal. The Kolkata winger finished it with aplomb.
Chennaiyin struck back immediately with a cross-cum-shot from Jeje falling kindly in the path of Jayesh Rane, who slotted the ball home. To the shock of the home crowd, the away side went into the lead when Mulder's weak shot was nodded into the net from Tiri, leaving his keeper Debjit Majumder flat-footed.
With less than 10 minutes to go, Kolkata received a penalty after Sameehg Doutie was brought down. Hume managed to squeeze his spot kick into the corner of the net to give Kolkata a share of the points.
Brief Scores:
Atletico de Kolkata 2 (Sameehg Doutie, Iain Hume penalty) draw with Chennaiyin FC 2 (Jayesh Rane, Hans Mulder)