Mapusa (GOA): Substitutes Peter Carvalho and Koko Sakibo scored late in the second half to help Dempo hold Mumbai FC to a 2-2 draw in the 19th round of the I-League, played at Duler stadium, Mapusa, here on Saturday.
Mumbai FC, who looked the better of the two sides, scored a goal in each half through Evans Quao (40th) and ND Opara (67th) and appeared all set to win before two late goals from substitutes Peter Carvalho (83rd) and Koko Sakibo (89) helped Dempo save the game after staring at defeat.
With Saturday’s draw, Dempo take their points tally to 35 from 18 matches, four points adrift from East Bengal who moved at the top of the table with 39 points, displacing Churchill Brothers to second place.
Mumbai now have 26 points from 18 matches.
In the earlier match, East Bengal defeated Pailan Arrows 2-1.
Pailan opened the scoring in the second minute through Alwyn George, but EB responded twice in the first half.
In the seventh minute Edeh Chidi scored from the penalty spot after the Pailan goalie Soram Porei fouled him in the box. Lalrindika Ralte scored the second in the 32nd minute.
An East Bengal player, Manandeep Singh was sent off in the 75th minute, but his team were able to hold on for the lead.
In other matches, Prayag United hammered Air India 4-1 in Pune. Ranti Martins (30) scored one, but CK Vineeth (37, 38 and 47) scored a quick hat-trick for the visitors. Air India earned a goal via a penalty from Elijah Junior (72)
Francis Fernandes almost repeated the feat for Salgaocar, who beat Pune, with a brace in the second and 45th minutes. (PTI)