Dempo held by gritty Chirag

After a barren first-half, the Goan heavyweights surged ahead in 59th minute through Peter Carvalho, but Edmilson produced the equaliser in 66th minute with both the teams logging one point each.

In a battle of equals with both side having an identical wins, losses and draws from nine matches, a result in the match would have determined I-League leaders but Edmilson again proved to be Chirag’s savior.

Playing without their main forward duo of Ranty Martins and Roberto Mendes Silva ‘Beto’, who were out for injuries, Dempo struggled to convert in the first-half.

Sunil Chhetri led the charge but the Indian striker was off-colour and missed chances on several occasions. Joaquim Abranches also was lacklustre in the forward line-up as Dempo could not find the goal in the first 45 minutes.

Clifford Miranda set up Abranches in the 19th but he missed the sitter.
In the 40th minute Abranches, Chhetri combined well in front of Chirag goal but the Indian striker headed one away.

Mumbai down Lajong

Visitors Shillong Lajong’s poor run at the Cooperage ground continued as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of hosts Mumbai Football Club.

The hosts went ahead with the help of an own goal in the 22nd minute, before the visitors restored parity through Niwan-O Gatphoh in the 50th minute. However skipper Abhishek Yadav (74th) and Subhas Chakravarthy (85th) put the match beyond Lajong’s control.

Mumbai FC now have 17 points from 11 matches, and are joint fifth alongwith Bagan.