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Mumbai FC found a last-gasp equaliser to hold Dempo SC to a 1-1 draw in a round-2 encounter of the I-League 2013-14 at the Balewadi sports complex on Sunday.
The draw was Mumbai FCs second at home and took their points tally to two from two games. For the record,the result was the third consecutive draw between both sides in I-League.
Trailing by a first-half goal scored by Jeje Lalpekhlua (45+3),Mumbai FC found their savior in defender Anwar Ali (86th minute) to squash the Goans hopes.
Mumbai FC went into the game making one change,opting for defender Valeriano Rebello in place of striker Jayesh Rane.
Both sides began cautiously and chose their attacking forays cautiously,with Mumbai FC playing a waiting game. Five minutes on and Mumbai FC opened up the attack. Skipper Nicholas Rodrigues set up midfielder Climax Lawrence,a former Dempo SC player,inside the box from right. The midfielder finding space let loose a stinger only to have his shot blocked by a Dempo SC defender.
Mumbai FC thereafter suffered a setback when John Coutinho,ended his day with an injury and limped off. Coutinho was replaced by Jayesh Rane.
Thereafter,the game was a test for both in the midfield with the Goans marginally dominating proceedings forcing a host of corner-kicks that Mumbai evaded.
In the third minute of first-half injury time,Mumbai FCs defence gave way which led to a corner-kick and also earned Haroon Amiri a yellow card. Off the corner-kick Clifford Miranda floated his effort to the far post which was headed home diagonally by Lalpekhlua past a helpless Kunal Sawant.
At half-time Mumbai FC trailed 0-1. Resuming the second half,Mumbai FC changed tactics and pushed Amiri into the attack. At the other end,Dempo SC found keeper Sawant a tough nut to crack. In the 50th minute the Mumbai FC custodian denied Billy Mehmet with a goalline save. Mumbai FC kept on the pressure and had Orok Essiens effort blocked by Honda from inside the box.
Mumbai FCs hard work paid off four minutes before regulation time. A corner kick won on the right,incidentally at the same flag that got Dempos goal,had Nicholas float the ball for Anwar to head home as he ran in on the overlap.
