Churchill Brothers came from behind to hold Dempo to a 1-1 draw in the 13th round of the ONGC I-league match played at the Nehru stadium in Margao on Sunday.
Churchill found the equaliser in the 72nd minute through Felix Chimaokwu after Dempo took the lead in the 45th minute through Anthony Pereira.
Dempo, who took time to settle down, nearly scored in the 36th minute but a Valeriano Rebelo long ranger hit the cross bar and went out.
The team, however, kept on the pressure and scored in the 45th minute as Valeriano Rebelo picked up Joaquim Abranches on the left with an overhead pass.
Rebelo controlled the ball and took a rasping shot that hit the cross bar and fell on the path of onrushing Anthony Pereira, who shot in to have Dempo leading 1-0 at half time.
Churchill started in the right earnest and had a couple of early scoring chances but Gouramangi Moirangthem and Chimaokwu lacked the direction to find the mark.
The second half belonged to Churchill who pressed hard to find the equaliser but found stiff resistance from a rival defence that kept Odafe Okolie on a tight lease.
However, they succeeded in the 72nd minute as a Naoba Singh pass was shot into the net from close by Chimaokwu.
Dempo came with counter attacks and had a glorious chance to take the lead, but an off-colour Ranty Martins fumbled to score off a cross from Rebelo.
Churchill's Odafe Okolie and Raju Yumnam were shown the yellow card by referee S Suresh.
With this match, Churchill, who now occupy the third place in the I-league, have 24 points from 13 matches while Dempo have collected 18 points from as many matches.
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