Bagan build on Air India lapses

Mohun Bagan exploited Air India bloopers to chalk out a 2-1 win in an 11th National Football League encounter in Kolkata on Saturday.

After a goalless first half, Fabio Cortez and Jose Barreto found the target for the four-time winners in the Salt Lake stadium exchange. Benoy Kuruvilla got the reducer for the airmen eight minutes from time.

Bagan, who carved out their maiden victory in the ongoing edition of the league, went ahead in the 55th minute following a goalkeeping blunder by Raju Ekka, who trooped outside the penalty box with the ball.

The resultant free kick by fabio was a curler that went in past the right post, keeping Ekka stranded.

Bagan kept up the pressure and Barreto latched on to a Mehtab Hossain centre to place home after dodging past Air India defender Santosh Kohli. The Air india rearguards were to be blamed for the goal as the Brazilian was left unmarked.

Down by two goals, Air India tried to launch several attacks as the match progressed, and narrowed the margin in the 82nd minute with Kuruvilla heading in following a Samson Singh corner.

After four matches, Air India now have seven points, while Bagan are three behind.