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Mohun Bagan continued their dream run in the I-League, taking their winning streak to four matches by overcoming stiff resistance from Air India and recording a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Kalyani Stadium, in Kolkata on Saturday.
Both teams were reduced to 10-men 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 keep 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 spot-kick 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.
Air India were reduced to 10 players when Bubai handed the ball and tried to stop Ozbey outside the box.
Mohun Bagan also received 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.
Salgaocar thrash United Sikkim
Salgaocar extended their seven-match unbeaten run by handing out a 9-0 defeat to United
Sikkim in the 24th round of I-League at Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco, Goa on Saturday.
Salgaocar, who led 3-0 at half-time, scored through Josimar de Silva (15th, 60th, and first minute of injury time), Gabriel Obatolo (16th), Luciano Saborosa (36th), Francis Fernandes (53rd, 59th) and substitute Marcus Mascarenhas (77th and fourth minute of injury time).
The win takes Salgaocar’s tally to 30 points from 24 matches, while United Sikkim remained at the bottom with 15 points from 23 points.