Chennai City FC could not preserve a 2-0 lead against Neroca FC and were made to share the spoils in an I-League match in Coimbatore on Saturday.

Katsumi Yusa (26th) and Mashoor Shereef (31th) gave the hosts a two-goal lead but Khaiminthang Lhungdim (45+3) and Boubacar Diarra (65th) ensured Neroca walked away with a point.

The hosts pressed high in the opening minutes and created two chances through Pravitto Raju and Mashoor. But the opener arrived from a penalty after Katsumi buried it from the spot in the 26th minute. Mashoor doubled his side’s advantage just five minutes later to put them in a strong position in the second quarter of the game.

Khaiminthang pulled one back for the visitors just before the break to get them back into the game.

Katsumi came close to restoring Chennai’s two-goal advantage in the 54th minute when he was inches away from bagging a second.