The match simmered, waiting for a spark, until Al Zawraa found it on the cusp of half-time. Hassan Abdulkareem's clever ball found Kadhim Raad, who cut back for Reziq Banihani. A messy deflection, a ricochet off Nim Dorjee Tamang, and the ball nestled cruelly into Goa's net.
ATKMB looked the likelier of the two teams to take the lead in the opening exchanges, with the Mariners needing two goals at least to make a comeback.
The two teams will go up against each other again on Wednesday for the second leg
Masih Saighani fired Chennaiyin into the lead in the 17th minute before two goals in either half by Martin Chaves (43rd, 71st) seemed to have handed all three points to NorthEast United. However, a late equaliser from Lallianzuala Chhangte (90+3rd) ensured the away side took a point from the match.
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