Mumbai FC held a depleted Dempo Sports Club to a 1-1 draw in the final group A league match of the 30th Federation Cup football championship in Barasat on Tuesday night.
Mahindra, Churchill draw
The matches were held to complete the formality as Dempo had already moved to the semi-finals, having registered two victories earlier.
Dempo emerged group 'A' champions garnering seven points from three matches but failed to finish their league engagements on a wining note.
They are followed by Mumbai FC, SBT and United Sporting who could earn 3, 2 and 2 points respectively.
Having ensured a place in the last-four stage, Dempo on Tuesday took the liberty of resting a few of their regulars including striker Ranty Martins, medio Beto and defender Mahesh Gawli. With nothing at stake both the teams went for an all-out attack alternately.
The Goan side took the lead in the 21st minute through a same side goal by Mumbai defender E Anas. Following a right flank centre by Joaquim Abranches, attacker Clifford Miranda took a header towards Mumbai goal and Anas, trying to chase it out, put it into his own goal (1-0).
Inspite of conceding the goal, the Mumbai team and went on raiding the rival citadel forcing a free kick near the top of the box in the 37th minute and Alex Ambros' swerving kick went in eluding the defensive wall and Dempo custodian Abhijit Mondal (1-1).
Dempo made a series of raids towards the end without any success. While Mumbai keeper Amit Singha Roy brought off a fine save in the 78th minute, Dempo forward Clifton Gonsalves hit the post five minutes later.
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