Title aspirants East Bengal were stretched to the limit as Dempo rallied strongly to hold them to a 2-2 draw in the Oil PSU National Football league match, at the Nehru stadium, in Margao, Goa, on Sunday.
East Bengal, who were pushed on the defensive for most part of the game, surged ahead in the 20th minute through striker Mike Okoro, who, after accepting a pass from Subhas Chakraborty, slipped past defender Domnic Noronha and shot the ball into the net past 'keeper Abhijit Mondal to become the league's leading scorer with 12 goals.
Two minutes later, Douglas Silva Dos Santos increased the lead when he nodded home off a flag-kick, taken by Alvito D'Cunha from the right.
But Dempo then went on the offensive and played like a well-oiled machine. Medio Jose Colaco, who was named man of the match, controlled the midfield along with Lazarus, Ratan, Mario Soares and Bijen Singh, and with good support from behind they raided the East Bengal goal with swift short passes that kept the rival defence on tenterhooks.
Dempo reduced the margin in the 29th minute with a move from the left by the hardworking Channa. He sent a measured cross, which beat the rival defence and Jose Colaco, who was following the move, volleyed past diving 'keeper Sandip Nandy.
The goal acted as a tonic for Dempo as they put pressure on the rival defence and found the equaliser in the 38th minutes when Soares scored following a goalmouth melee.
After the change of ends, Dempo continued to put pressure on the East Bengal defence.
Referee S M Balu showed yellow cards to Dempo's Bijen Singh, Jose Luciano and East Bengal's Suley Musah.
With this draw East Bengal, who lead the table, took their tally to 34 points from 14 matches. While Dempo have 22 points from 14 matches.