Saheed Azeez headed in a late goal as hosts Manang Marshyangdi Club settled for a 1-1 draw against Minerva Punjab of India in the AFC Cup match at the ANFA Complex on Wednesday.

Defender Azeez, who is a Nigerian national, struck in the 80th minute to cancel out Minerva’s 39th minute lead provided by Thoiba Singh. MMC failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage as Minerva played the entire second half with a man down. The result all but ended bottom-placed MMC’s hopes of making into next round from Group ‘E’ which consists of four teams. Only the group toppers qualify for the next round.
After two defeats and as many draws with Minerva, MMC have two points from four matches. Minerva are in second place with four points in the tournament played under home and away format. Another Indian outfits Chennaiyin FC lead the standings with seven points while Abahani Limited Dhaka are in third with four points in the second-tier club tournament of Asia. Chennaiyin and Abahani have a match advantage over bottom two teams.
“It is now almost very difficult to advance any further in the tournament. It all depends on outcome of other results as to where we would up,” said MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang Gurung. He said his team paid the price for not playing to the plan. “MMC failed to play their natural game except for the last 15 minutes,” Gurung said, whose team never looked to secure victory despite having the numerical advantage the whole of the second half. “We were even poor than how we fared away to the same team,” said Gurung whose team had played a 2-2 draw against the opponents in Bhubaneswar on May 1.  
MMC survived a couple of early scares after Minerva smashed the crossbar twice in the first 15 minutes. MMC were unable to create a single chance in the entire first half. In the ninth minute Minerva striker Samuel Lalmuanpuia’s 25-yard shot rebounded of the crossbar. Four minutes later Thoiba Singh also rattled the woodwork in similar fashion.
In the 38th minute, MMC goalie Bishal Shrestha got hold of Lalmuanpuia’s powerful low drive from the area. Minerva’s search for goal finally came a minute later when the 17-year-old Thoiba Singh made a quick finish from the area after collecting a ball that had rebounded off goalkeeper Shrestha from Kalif Alhassan shot. Minerva intensified their attacks and threatened yet again in the 40th minute only for custodian Shrestha to deny Singh.
Minerva’s attack slowed down only after defender Prateek Joshi was sent off for a second booking in the first half stoppage time. He got the second yellow for a foul on forward Adelaja Somide. MMC’s first remarkable attempt on goal came nine minutes after restart when Anjan Bista’s header was blocked by Minerva keeper Arshdeep Singh.
MMC survived yet another scare in the 70th minute as Shrestha denied Sreyas Gopalan in the 70th minute.  In the 81st minute Azeez headed home Anjan Bista right flank cross to level the scores. Gopalan had again restored Minerva’s lead through a header just before the regulation time but referee Shukri Hussain rule it as offside.
Olawale Afeez also came closer to scoring for MMC in the stoppage time as he cleverly poked Somide’s pass inside the ball with only goalie Singh on his way. But the shot-stopper made a one-handed save to deny the winning goal. Afeez will miss the next away match against Abahani on June 19 as he saw booked second time in the tournament.    
Minerva coach Sachin Tanaji Badadhe was furious over the refereeing decisions: sending off of his player and ruling his team’s last-gasp goal as offside. He even blamed the referee for taking bribes. “I am very proud of my boys. They played really well. Playing 11 versus 9 and getting the goal was great,” he said referring that the referee favoured the home team. “The decisions altered the course of the game... We are going to complain it with the AFC,” said Badadhe adding that his team still have chances of qualifying for the next round but now its out of their hands and depend on results elsewhere.