Meanwhile, two-time champion Nepal Police Club's misery continued in the third round as well after it was beaten 2-0 by departmental rival Armed Police Force (APF).
The exciting encounter between MMC and TAC saw the latter taking an early lead through Bharat Khawas, before Anil Gurung cancelled his lead to restore parity with a brilliant acrobatic goal within the first 15 minutes of the match.
An eventful match where both teams created opportunities and pressed hard to walk away with all three points slowed down in the latter half with TAC looking more intimidating.
Wednesday's draw took MMC level on points with leader Three Star Club and second-placed APF on seven points from three matches. The top-three are separated by the virtue of goal difference. On the other hand TAC, which is the only team to play its fourth round matches, stand fifth on the table with six points, leveled on points with fourth-placed APF and having three points cushion over sixth-placed Lumbini FC from three draws and one win.
"We put up a great effort out there and were the deserving team-at least in the second half," said TAC coach Meg Raj KC.
"Missing chances will cost you points and we missed some in the second half. Though this is our third draw of the campaign, we have shared points with all heavyweights. It's a long way to go to determine a winner and we will give our best."
Bharat put TAC on the driving seat four minutes into the match slotting home a low shot from inside the area capitalizing on MMC's defensive lapse. MMC defenders failed to read Hiranya Magar's lofty cross inside the area and left it upon their goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha, who did not made a prompt reaction and fell prey to Bharat's swiftness.
Manang pressed hard for the equalizer and leveled the score in the 13th minute with skipper Anil dispatching an excellent overhead goal into top corner, resulting from his brilliant first touch after Sujal Shrestha had initiated the move with long ball on the flank before beating past defenders to assist Anil at the edge.
The second half saw Manang standing rigid to avert TAC from scoring and galloping into attack against the run of play.
Acknowledging his team came under pressure in the second half, MMC coach Raju Shakya said that his team coordination was not sound.
"We have injury concern with some of our good players. We lost our coordination in the second half and failed to keep hold on the ball. Players seemed exhausted in the second half."
Earlier, Ranjan Bista scored a brace for APF as it leapfrogged at second from sixth in the table.
Ranjan scored on either side of the half, breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute capitalizing on Bhola Silwal's back pass that was not read by Suraj BK to pounce past advancing Police goalie Ritesh Thapa.
Ranjan then sealed the victory again pouncing on defensive lapse after Ajit Bhandari had played a back pass to Ritesh, which Ranjan intercepted to tap in from a close range.
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