Minerva Punjab News
Minerva are now at third spot in Group E with two points while Manang Marshyangdi are at the bottom after losing both their matches so far.
Chennaiyin became the first ISL side to enter the AFC Cup group stage after getting the better of Sri Lanka's Colombo FC in South Zone qualifying play-off on 1-0 aggregate last month.
Uncertainty looms over I-League's future with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) mulling bringing the league's top teams into the ISL fold.
At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Roland Bilala had handed Minerva Punjab a shock lead in the third minute. But Pedro Manzi converted from the spot to draw parity.
Real Kashmir powered by a brace from Farooq (29th, 48th) and Bazie Armand (57th) wrapped the game in style.
East Bengal will next play against Gokulam Kerela on March 9 whereas Minerva will play against Chennai City on the same date.
Minerva, who are yet to reach Srinagar, have decided to forfeit the match, citing security issues as well as to pay homage to the slain CRPF Jawans.
Minerva are going through a lacklustre season and are currently placed seventh on the points table with 14 points from as many games.
Minerva, under Irish coach Paul Munster, have found the going tough this season and it reflected in their scoring record of having struck just six times in 11 games.
The two sides split points at the end of 90 minutes, in a match characterised by many missed chances and a lack of imagination in attack.
The 12th edition of the I-League will feature eleven teams and four new venues.
I-League champions Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj was on Monday banned for one year from all football activity and also fined Rs 10 lakh after being found 'guilty' of making racist remarks by AIFF.
Goalkeeper Sanjiban Ghosh turned out to be the gamechanger as Jamshedpur FC prevailed over I-league champions Minerva Punjab 5-4 in sudden death and enter the quarterfinals of the Super Cup on Monday.
Not everything is hunky-dory for surprise I-League champions Minerva Punjab FC as their players are yet to get their salaries and, according to sources, there is little possibility their dues would be cleared anytime soon.
Newly-crowned I-League champions Minerva Punjab FC will take on Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC on April 2 in the inaugural Super Cup football tournament which begins in Bhubaneswar on March 31.
Minerva Punjab became the 2017-18 I-League champions when they beat Churchill Brothers 1-0 on the last day of the season on Thursday.
Locked in a battle with Churchill Brothers to avoid relegation from the I-League, Chennai City FC have asked the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to grant them immunity this season.
Minerva Punjab's I-League title hopes were derailed a little on Friday as they were beaten by Chennai City 2-1 at Coimbatore.
Following the win, Aizawl FC jump to the sixth spot with seven points from four matches while Minerva Punjab continue to enjoy the top position with 13 points from six fixtures.
The defeat is Arrows second against Minerva this season having lost 0-2 against the same opponents a few weeks ago in Goa.
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