A stout defending and a couple of good saves by keeper Arnab Das Sarma of Air-India denied Dempo full points as both settled for a goalless draw in the 15th round of ONGC-I-league played at Nehru stadium in Margao on Tuesday.
Dempo who dominated the match throughout were unlucky in the dying minutes as Ranty Martins shot hit the post.
With Tuesday's draw, Dempo maintained their top spot with 31 points from 15 matches. They are closely followed by Churchill Bros (29), Mohun Bagan (27) and JCT (26), while Air India took their tally to 17 points from 15 matches.
Air India's defender Nirmal Chettri who played his hearts out was declared man of the match.
Both the teams started cautiously. Dempo who were in a must win situation, dictated terms as the match wore on as they held territorial advantage over their rivals. But were unable to show their superiority in terms of goals as they failed to pierce the defence who defended in numbers.
The only time they came near to scoring was in the 22nd minute when Valeriano Rebello shot from top of the box missed narrowly and later a minute before lemon break, Air-India keeper Arnab brought off a fine save, blocking Nascimento Silveira powerful shot by diving to his left which was cleared to safety by defender Paresh Shivalkar on the goal line.
Dempo made two changes after the change of ends, bringing in Roberto Silva and Cresson Antao in place of medio Nascimento Silveira and defender Valeriano Rebello but failed to break the dead lock even as they dominated over their rivals.
Ranty Martins had a clear chance in the 75th minute but he directed the ball out from close a cross by substitute Cresson Antao.
Earlier, Air-India keeper Arnab pulled out a good save by blocking Edeh Chidi header off a combined move from the right by Roberto and Martins.
Air India who defended their citadel well tried couple of long rangers which went stray.
Referee P Bhasker showed yellow card to Air India's Narendra Meetei.
With time running out and Dempo in search of the elusive goal were unlucky in the dying minutes when Martins shot hit the post off a combined move from the right by Climax Lawrence and Nicolau Borges.
