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.
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.
