Abahani Limited failed to brighten their chances to remain in the race when Aizawl FC of India came from a goal down to force a one all draw at their (Abahani) home ground in the AFC Cup yesterday.

Held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, it was very much disappointing for the host Abahani despite taking the advantage of 3-0 win in the away match and taking lead on the day failed to keep up the drive at home ground and frittered away the opportunity to remain in the race of crossing the league phase hurdle.

Abahani looked not disciplined from the beginning as they could not hold the ball and playing with plenty of wrong passes and losing the ball possession that paved the way for Aizawl to make counter threat.

Aizawl drew the first blood in the fifth minute with Leonce Dodoz taking the defense lapse  but missed the chance hitting the side post.

On 15th minute it was more than danger and Abahani just narrowly escaped from conceding goal when Mapuia’s close range header was saved by goalkeeper Sohel at the last moment at the cost of a corner but in the next minute it was another great escape for Abahani when again defenders blundered failing to clear ball when it was slipped from Sohel’s gloves and captain Alfred Kema’s shot was saved just from the goal-line by Nasiruddin.

Abahani surviving from the scares went closer to take lead with their first real move when they earned a free kick some five yards away from the box but Sunday’s attempt just shattered the corner of the cross piece on 21st minute.

Abahani had another chance to have lead when Rubel Meah received a ball from a combined effort and incredibly entered into the danger area with inside-outside dodge but Sunday tottered taking the shot outside the post giving no chance to Rubel.

However, the hosts despite could not play well in the opening 45 minutes, found a momentum in the half an hour and took the lead on 31st minute and it was also an ultimate result of a strong pressure.  Abahani went very closer to the post with Emeka swift movement but Aizawl defender Lal Ram brought down Emeka in the area and Palestine referee Baraa Kamal Abu Asheh did not miss to call for a penalty and Emeka converted it (1-0).

The second half was also began with the visitors’ dominance from the very beginning and just kept Abahani under pressure, as it looked they left full space for the opponents taking with defensive strategy.

Aizawl, who conceded three goals at their home ground, leveled the margin on 65th minute playing with better domination with Andrei had no trouble to send the ball into top right corner of the post with his chest when the Romanian midfielder was left unmarked at the edge of the area (1-1).

Abahani, though could not play in accordance with heir standings, were very ill-fated also when apart from the first half attempt of Sunday, another effort from Sunday and a header of Alison Udoka denied by cross piece in the five minutes of injury period.