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Striker Robin Singh struck the match-winner as Bengal made a stunning second-half comeback to upset defending champions Bengaluru FC 2-1 in a high-profile I-League football clash, in Barasat, West Bengal on Sunday.
Robin struck in the 79th minute to give East Bengal full points after team-mate Ivan Bukenya (28th minute) had cancelled out Bengaluru striker C K Vineeth's goal in the 23rd minute.
The win will be a big boost to East Bengal's campaign in their bid for an elusive I-League title as they are now two points behind arch-rivals Mohun Bagan (10) at the second place while the reigning champions Bengaluru were pushed to third place with nine points.
Vineeth found the East Bengal net when he touched the ball to the far corner from an unmarked run to give Bengaluru a first-half lead.
East Bengal recovered after the jolt with Lalrindika Ralte providing the assist and Ivan Bukenya finding the target to put the home team back in the game in the 28th minute.
In front of a boisterous home crowd, East Bengal's moment finally came in the 79th minute from a sloppy back pass from Sena Ralte to defender Juanan who was caught out.
Superb Mahmoud goal helps Aizawl down Mumbai FC
Aizawl FC stunned hosts Mumbai FC 1-0 in a fourth round I-League encounter at the Cooperage ground to keep their slate clean.
The only goal of the match was a superb effort in the 79th minute by Syrian Mahmoud Al Amna, who positioned himself perfectly to meet a cross from the left which he blasted home with an angular drive beating Mumbai FC ‘keeper Laxmikant Kattimani all ends up.
Only a little while earlier had the foreigner missed a golden chance to break the deadlock by shooting wide a gilt-edged pass, but made amends with his match-winning goal, off a pass provided by under 22 wing back Lalruatthara.
Aizawl, in fact, deserved the victory as they showed more attacking instincts and combined better than the hosts. Jayesh Rane worked tirelessly in the midfield for the team from the north east.
The visitors, coached by Khalid Jamil who was Mumbai FC coach last year, totally dominated the second half after having the better share of the proceedings in the first.
The victory was the third in a row for Aizawl who had beaten newcomers Minerva Academy 1-0 and then fellow-north easterners Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 prior to that after having held formidable Eat Bengal to a 1-1 draw.
The win also took their points tally to ten and moved up to third on the table. The loss, the second successive one for Mumbai FC, coached by Santosh Kashyap, following their 0-3 rout by defending champions Bengaluru FC in a previous away game, kept the home team down to fifth with six points from four games.
Mumbai FC had started the season with back to back wins over DSK Shivajians and Churchill Brothers before losing to Bengaluru.