Kolkata: Mohun Bagan continued their dream I-League run, taking their winning streak to four matches when they overcame a stiff resistance from Air India for a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Kalyani Stadium, here on Saturday.
Both the teams were reduced to 10-man in an action-packed second-half but Mohun Bagan ensured a fourth successive win riding on a Denson Devadas strike in the dying minutes (90+4th).
Air India goalkeeper Bubai Singh was sent off following a tackle outside the box in the 68th minute but the Mumbai outfit did well to kept up the pressure.
The fiery combination of Odafa Okolie-Tolgay Ozbey ensured Mohun Bagan a 2-0 lead early into the first-half. Odafa gave Mohun Bagan an 11th minute lead from a spotkick after they got the penalty following Prem Kumar's bad tackle of Ozbey inside the box.
The Aussie doubled the lead with a spectacular finish in the 28th minute as Mohun Bagan looked unstoppable. The relegation-wary Air India however did not give up as they pulled one back when Henry Ezeh struck in the 38th minute as they kept raiding Mohun Bagan.
Odafa was not in his best missing a one-on-one after the changeover. Air India were reduced to 10 players when Bubai handed the ball and tried to stop Ozbey outside the box.
Mohun Bagan also got a jolt when Echezona Anyichie was sent off following a second yellow in the 85th minute as Air India brought on the equaliser through Branco Cardozo (90+1st).
But there was more action in store when Devadas headed the winner three minutes later. Mohun Bagan climbed to 11th place with 22 points from 21 matches, while Air India remained in the relegation zone with 19 from 22.
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