Bright Enobakhare came up with a gem of a strike to give SC East Bengal the all-important lead. But that wasn’t enough to clinch them full points as FC Goa scored soon after to force a 1-1 draw in Wednesday’s Indian Super League (ISL) game at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco.

Bright, who had come on as a substitute in East Bengal’s previous match versus Odisha FC and scored too, was included in the starting XI this time and he found the target again to vindicate the faith shown in him by Robbie Fowler.

Jacques Maghoma centred to Bright and the Nigerian exhibited his class as he made his way into the FC Goa box after beating as many as four markers before placing a shot into the bottom corner in the 79th minute. That indeed was a stunning solo effort.

Unfortunately for East Bengal, FC Goa got the equaliser within two minutes post Bright’s stunner as substitute Devendra Murgaonkar nodded in a Saviour Gama cross. East Bengal were also down to 10-men as Daniel Fox received marching orders in the 56th minute for a rough tackle on Alexander Jesuraj.

Fowler, though, was again unhappy with the officiating and the team management thus has decided to lodge a complaint against referee Arumughan Rowan to AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

Gaining just a point from this game, East Bengal are now placed at the ninth spot of the league table with seven points from nine matches. FC Goa, on the other hand, are fourth with 15 points from 10 matches. FC Goa dominated the first half, maintaining superior possession and creating more chances, but they couldn’t get the desired result as East Bengal custodian Debjit Majumder made four crucial saves.

FC Goa continued to exert pressure on East Bengal even after the change of ends, but they couldn’t quite capitalise on the numerical advantage.

East Bengal do rue their inability to hold on to the lead, but Bright’s performance was certainly a major positive.