Despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half, Mohun Bagan managed to hold defending champions Dempo Sports Club, Goa [Images], to a goalless draw in a 10th National Football League match at the Cooperage ground in Mumbai on Friday.
Bagan defender Sanjeev Kumar Maria was booked twice for fouls in a three-minute span and had to leave the field with ten minutes left in the first half.
But the Kolkata team packed their defence and gave little room for the Goan team's forwards to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
In fact, it was Bagan who squandered a few chances in the second half to steal a moral victory.
Awudu Ibrahim's shot early in the second half was saved by Dempo custodian Abhijit Mondal and the rebound was booted wide by Sushil Kumar Singh.
Singh was again the culprit in the 56th minute when he left-footed the ball wide following a pass from Ibrahim.
The draw helped Bagan keep their third spot in the league table intact with 21 points to their credit from 11 ties while Dempo are fourth with 20 from the same number of matches.
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