Kolkata: Dempo Sports Club held McDowell Mohun Bagan to a 2-2 draw in a crucial I-League clash at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday. The draw consolidates Dempo’s position at the top of the table on 47 points from 22 points while Mohun Bagan move to 39 points from 22 matches.

Dempo surged into the lead as early as the 4th minute. But Man-of-the-match Odafa Okolie’s brace -- a goal each in the 26th and the 33rd minute put Bagan in the lead by the interval.

Changing over, much against the run of play, Dempo’s Koko Sakibu pulled it back for his team in the 77th minute.

Almost immediately after the match kicked-off, Dempo earned a penalty. Bagan defender Syed Rahim Nabi handled the ball in the box in the 4th minute. Ranti Martins gleefully converted from the spot.
Inspired, Ranti was creating havoc in the Bagan half -- Kingshuk Debnath earned himself a yellow card in the 11th minute for a foul on the striker. But Bagan regrouped fast.

In the 23rd minute, Jose Ramirez Barreto’s shot was handed in the rival box but Odafa Okolie, who stepped up to take the penalty succeeded in only hitting the post.

However, Odafa made amends three minutes later. Receiving a Sunil Chhetri pass, he powered his way past Samir Naik, rounded past rival goalkeeper Subhasis Rohchowdhury to slot it home.

Soon he made it 2-1. This time, he sidestepped Mahesh Gawli and pulled the trigger to bulge the net in the 33rd minute. Mohun Bagan led 2-1 at the interval.

In the 2nd half Dempo SC brought in Jouquim Abranches for Clifford Miranda. And after some anxious moments in their box, the Goan giants pulled it back in the 77th minute. Ranti Martins flicked on a long ball from Climax Lawrence to Koko Sakibo who calmly slotted it to the left of rival goalkeeper Shilton Paul.

During the fag end, Shilton managed to palm away a Climax Lawrence shot from close and luckily for Bagan, Anthony Pereira blasted the rebound over the bar.

By Indian Sports News Network