Defending champions Dempo Sports Club and Sporting Clube de Goa [Images] played out a goalless draw in their opening match in the National Football League at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Tuesday.

It was Sporting Clube that had a major share of the exchanges but the inability of their strikers to break through the tight Dempo defence prevented them from scoring and snatching what could have been only their second victory in five outings over their state mates.

Added to their woes, Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal, who was later adjudged man of the match, proved a hard nut to crack as he effected some smart saves.

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