New Delhi, March 9 Two goals in the second half saw Punjab FC draw 1-1 with NorthEast United FC in their Indian Super League match here on Monday.
Parthib Gogoi gave NorthEast United FC the lead at the 60th minute mark, only to see Punjab FC's Nigerian striker Nsungusi Jr Effiong equalize three minutes later.
The 1-1 result meant Punjab improved to eighth place, with four points, having one game in hand, while NorthEast United remained in tenth place with three points after four games.
The visitors dominated the first 15 minutes, with two early corners leading to Spanish centre-back Míchel Zabaco missing a golden opportunity after Lalrinzuala had found him free with a measured cross from the left flank.
A minute later, NorthEast United winger Jithin MS also found some space to dink the ball over the goalkeeper, but he also missed the target.
Punjab then had a good spell, with Spanish midfielder Daniel Ramírez missing a good header, followed by Effiong having his first shot on target.
Dilmperis was forced to make a double substitution at the 30th minute mark after Nikhil Prabhu got injured, and Suhail also created two chances near the end of the half. Gogoi, however, had the last great chance of the half, but the dreadlocks could not be broken.
The second half initially saw some scrappy play with three bookings in the first few minutes, but soon the goal came when Parthib latched onto a loose ball after Lalrinzuala was boxed in by three defenders. He controlled the ball wonderfully to drive forward and slot it past Arshdeep Singh's right to give NorthEast the lead.
The equaliser came instantly after Suhail, who had been a livewire down the left since coming on, won another battle against Redeem Talang, to burst into the box and cut back in for Effiong to tap it in on the turn.
It was Effiong's third goal of the ISL season, and third in two games.