Mahindra United gave outgoing coach Derrick Pereira the perfect send-off by clinching the Mumbai Football League for the third year in a row with a 3-2 victory over ONGC in the concluding match at the Cooperage in Mumbai on Monday.
Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh struck twice for the champions while Mohd Rafi found the target in between these two strikes to put Mahindra United 3-0 up and seemingly on way to a thumping victory by the 33rd minute.
However, ONGC, who failed to qualify for the I-League first division, scored two fine goals through Mangut Mbwas and Jatin Singh Bisht in the space of three minutes late in the first half to make it 3-2.
After change of ends, both the teams failed to find the target and Mahindra clinched the title with 14 points while ONGC finished runners-up with 13.
It was the second silverware won by Mahindra during the season following the Durand Cup triumph in New Delhi late last year.
Mahindra also took home the winner's purse of Rs 2.25 lakh.
Pereira has already announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the local league due to personal reasons after a four-year stint.
