Defending champions Bengaluru FC had to settle for their fifth draw of the season as they were held by top division newcomers Chennai City FC 1-1 in an I-League tie here on Wednesday.
Chennai took the lead when John Johnson (53rd minute) scored an own goal but Daniel Lalhlimpuia (58th) saved the defending champions blushes by restoring parity.
Bengaluru had Chennai on the ropes from the start when Mandar Rao Desai saw his header kept out by Karanjit Singh in the 4th minute.
Daniel then had a shot on target kept out by Chennai goalkeeper Celesitine Echezona. Sunil Chhetri too saw an attempt on goal from an Udanta cutback saved.
Despite Bengaluru's authority, it was Chennai who got the lead when Johnson headed a seemingly harmless cross from Nandhakumar on the right and watched in horror as it flew past goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya and into the net.
A quick response was what Bengaluru needed and they found one within five minutes of conceding. Sent on a chase he went down the right, Udanta's cross was pushed away by Chennai custodian Karanjit Singh. But the ball fell at Daniel's feet and the striker calmly shot home the equaliser.
The visitors relentlessly pressed for a second goal and they came agonisingly close in the 63rd minute when Juanan saw a header from a corner saved off the line by Chennai City defender Debabrata Roy.
Nishu Kumar then saw two delightful low crosses roll across the face of the goal with no Bengaluru player close enough to get a foot on them.
Bengaluru FC have now 17 points from 12 matches while the hosts Chennai City FC soared up to the ninth spot with 10 points having played one match more.