Minerva in final leg of AIFF Elite League

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 23 

Makan Winkle Chothe scored a treble but Minerva Punjab FC let slip a three-goal lead to play out a 5-5 draw against FC Manglore (FCM) and qualify for the final round of the AIFF Elite League in Goa on Wednesday. 

Minerva Punjab FC bagged one point to take their total tally to eight points. They entered the final leg, which start on January 27. Real Kashmir FC finished second with seven points to become the other team to qualify from the group. 

FCM scored the first goal in the fourth minute. However, Chothe earned a penalty for Minerva which he successfully converted to make it 1-1 in the ninth minute. FCM again took the lead in the 15th minute. Chothe again rescued the side by netting his second goal. In the 33rd minute, Minerva went ahead 3-2 when skipper Taranpreet Singh netted a goal. After the halftime break, Ajaruddin scored the fourth goal in the 48th minute. Chothe came up with his third goal, in the 58th minute, to make it 5-2. 

However, FCM came up with a stunning show to pull off a draw, scoring twice in the 72nd minute and once in the 90th. Chothe was named Man of the Match. Minerva won two matched and draw two to top the points table.