Mohun Bagan's title chances suffered a major blow after they were held to a goalless draw by spirited Dempo in the Oil PSU National Football League match played at Nehru stadium in Margao Friday.
Dempo, who lost to Bagan 1-5 in the first leg, played with more determination and quickly settled to the rhythm as they controlled the midfield and held more of the ball possession throughout.
The Goans had better share of exchanges and unsettled the rival defence.
The nearest they came to scoring was midway into the first half when Bijen Singh sent a free kick from the left to Stanley who failed to capitalise. Later Lazurus' try was well collected by Bagan keeper Dastidar.
Bagan relied more on the counter moves and had three scoring chances in the first half but medio Basudeb Mondal failed to capitalise on all the three occasions.
First in the 13th minute, George Ekeh, who played after a one match suspension, slipped past two rival defenders inside the box and relayed the ball to unmarked Mondal who shot wide.
Minutes later, Ekeh again put Mondal through off Renedy's pass from the left but Mondal ended in shooting straight to the goalkeeper.
Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal, who was declared the man of the match, came to his side's rescue at least on two occasions when he parried a powerful shot from Basudev Mondal in the first half and later Lolendro Singh's left footer in the second half to deny Bagan victory.
With Baichung Bhutia rested, Barrets played as a withdrawn forward in the first half. He moved up and twice came near scoring in the second half but keeper Mondal first blocked his shot and later his try deflected off Ekeh's head and hit the bar before going out.
The draw put Bagan in a tight spot as they are trailing leaders East Bengal's 34 by eight points. East Bengal has also played one match less. Dempo took their tally to 23 points from 15 matches.
In an other match in Mumbai, Indian Bank, Chennai proved too good for local outfit Mahindra United, beating them 2-1 at the Cooperage.
The visitors surged ahead in the 12th minute when their medio Nathaniel's cross was converted by mid-fielder Harish.
In the 32nd minute the hosts equalised when their striker Ednei Jose Damasio scored off mid-fielder Jamesh Singh.
Fifteen minutes after the break, the bankmen's winger Anyanwu Staney Festus netted the all important goal following a defensive lapse by Mahindra defender Tapan Ghosh.
In fact, the first five minutes of the match saw a totally off colour Mahindra forward Abhishek Yadav miss two sitters. First his header off a Jamesh Singh cross was off the target and very next minute he shot wide off a Khalid Siddique pass after beating the custodian Sebastian Netto comfortably.
With this win the Indian Bank have 17 points from 15 matches while Mahindra have 14 points from 15 ties.
In another encounter at Kolkata, custodian Arindam Ghosh saved a late penalty to enable Tollygunge Agragami draw 1-1 with Vasco Sports Club.
Marcos Perera put the visitors ahead in the first half with a power-packed side volley before Nigerian Akeem Abolanle restored partity for Tollygunge from a penalty early in the second half at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Following a Selwyn Fernandes centre from the right, Brazilian Perera banged into the net from just inside the box to make the scoreline 1-0 in the 20th minute.
Tollygunge seemed rudderless in the opening session but gave a much improved display after the breather and levelled the issue in the 49th minute.
Selwyn Fernandes was pulled up by referee Sarat Chandra Singh for handling the ball inside the box following an Asim Biswas shot. Akeem made no mistake in converting the resultant spotkick.
Five minutes before close, a combined Vasco move saw Perera hit the bar of Tollygunge goalkeeper Arindam Ghosh. The rebound came to Shanta Singh whose sidevolley found the post before hitting Tollygunge player Srikanta Dutta's hand.
The referee who was standing nearby awarded a penalty to Vasco. But Ghosh brilliantly saved Ruy Wanderley's shot.
Ghosh who had a good day under the bar was adjudged the man of the match.
After 15 matches, Vasco now have 25 points while Tollygunge are four points behind.
