Kolkata: McDowells Mohun Bagan defeated Mumbai FC 2-1 at the Yuba Bharati Krinangan, on Saturday. Odafa Okolie was the sole reason for Mohun Bagan winning the match.
For Mumbai FC, Friday Gbeneme scored in the 24th minute, while Odafa scored both goals for Mohun Bagan in the 74th and 81st minutes.
The match started off with Mumbai FC looking the better of the two sides with some creative work by their midfielders and forwards.
Cavin Lobo took a fierce shot in the 22nd minute that went wide but showed Maroon brigade what was in store.
Gbeneme Friday scored the opening goal of the match when he received a long ball with his chest, out muscled Anwar Ali in the Bagan defense and scored off a neat finish sending the home team into shock.
Odafa nearly levelled the score before half time in the 34th minute, when he received a long ball from Anwar but Mumbai FC goalkeeper Sanjiban Ghosh pulled off a diving save to put the ball out for a corner.
Changing over, Cavin Lobo took another outstanding shot, as he had taken in the first but goalkeeper Sangaram Mukherjee pulled off a great diving save. NP Pradeep was brought on in the 49th minute in place of Daniel Zeleny as Bagan pushed forward for an equaliser.
Things looked bleak for the Mariners as the Mumbai FC defense held strong and it looked like they would pull off another upset win.
Manish Mathani was brought on for Ashim Biswas in the 63rd minute. Rakesh Masiah played a back heel in the box to Jewel Raja who was brought down by Dhanachandra Singh. Odafa stepped up to convert the spot kick sending the keeper the wrong way.
In the 81st minute of the match goalkeeper Sanjiban Ghosh misjudged a cross and Anwar headed it down tamely for Odafa to complete the final finish and put Bagan into the lead with only nine minutes left.
Mohun Bagan winning 2-1 and Shillong Lajong’s victory over East Bengal means that Mohun Bagan move onto 37 points from 20 matches and leapfrog them with two points lead.
By Indian Sports News
