By IANS
Kolkata : Mohun Bagan kept up their winning momentum as they defeated second placed Churchill Brothers 2-1 in a 14th round tie of the I-league here Thursday.
Mohun Bagan now has seven wins from 14 outings to have 24 points and move to the fourth spot, one behind JCT, Phagwara. Churchill with eight wins from the same number of outings remains on the second spot with 26.
In a fast paced tie, Mohun Bagan took the lead three minutes into the game when Baichung Bhutia volleyed home a faulty clearance. They increased the lead in the 31st minute from a corner kick. The low cross saw Bhutia flick the ball with his head and Habibur Rehman standing unmarked found the ball at his feet.
He slotted the ball home to make it 2-0.
Six minutes later Churchill reduced one when Vashum’s minus saw Odafe Okolie in the midst of things. Hemmed by four Mohun Bagan defenders, Odafe squeezed the ball to Mboyo Iyomi who volleyed home. With the score 2-1, the match was on.
Mohun Bagan had the best chance of the match when Bhutia beat Churchill goalie, but failed to push the ball into an empty net.
The second half saw Churchill press for the equaliser. While Mboyo and Odafe kept the defence on the tenterhooks, Vashum and Roberts kept the pressure with continuous supply of balls from the flanks.
However, Habibur had a brilliant outing bottling up Odafe throughout the match. He was given the man of the match, which he deserved.
However, Mohun Bagan were the better team Thursday with greater penetration and imagination in the rival box.