PTI
 
Mumbai, May 6: Dempo Sports Club squandered an opportunity to seal the National Football League title when they dropped points against local outfit Air India after playing out a 2-2 draw in a penultimate round match at the Cooperage ground on Sunday.

Enjoying a superb run of form, Goan outfit Dempo would be clearly disappointed with the verdict as despite having the momentum and taken the lead twice they were unable to close out things.

However, Dempo (33 points) would need just a draw at home against Mohun Bagan in their final match on May 18 to secure the title.

Having the better of the exchanges for a major part of the first half, Dempo got their goals through their strike force duo of Anthony Pereira, the eventual man-of-the-match, and prolific scorer Nigerian Ranty Martins.

Efforts from forward Bashiru Abass and wing-back Santosh Koli, who struck very late in the match, ensured that the airmen kept their recent run of drawn encounters at home intact.

Dempo, who looked good with their passing and movement, got the perfect start when they went ahead in the 13th minute through Anthony following a throw-in from Valeriano Rebelo.

Air India, struggling to get any sort of fluency, against the run of play snatched the equaliser through Bashiru at the half-hour mark, courtesy some sloppy defending.

The complexion of the match continued to remain the same even after crossing over with Dempo in better light but some generous work at the back denied them from gaining the maximum points.