Nigerian import Ogba Kalu Nnanna's brilliance helped defending champions Churchill Brothers revive their campaign with a 3-2 victory over Air India in an action-packed sixth round I-League match at the Cooperage in Mumbai on Sunday.
Kalu scored twice in the 31st and the 37th minutes to first allow the visitors cancel out Air India's lead and then surge ahead.
Skipper and talismanic striker Odafe Okolie scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute to put the match beyond Air India's reach.
Md. Dada Nabel (4th) and N D Opara (45th) scored for the hosts.
The match began in a dramatic fashion with both the teams missing close opportunities to score within the first three minutes.
Nabel began the goal-scoring spree when his close range header off a cross from the left beat Churchill custodian Arindam Bhattacharya all ends up.
The hosts' defence became a little lax after the early lead as Churchill had most of the ball possession in the first half.
It was not too long before Kalu netted from a Thokchom Naoba Singh cross from the right to draw level for Churchill.
Later, Ogba Kalu scored to help Churchill to a close win and gain 3 invaluable points.
Dempo rally to hold Pune FC
Dempo SC were forced to share points as Pune FC held them to a 1-1- draw in their sixth round I-League clash at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on Sunday.
After a goalless opening half, the home team went ahead when Arata Izumi scored in the 85th minute before the Goans
fought back and earned a draw at the nick of time by finding the equaliser in the 89th minute through Anthony Pereira.
Pune FC thus denied the former champions their second successive victory away from home after defeating JCT at
Ludhiana by a lone goal.
Dempo, without star striker Ranty Martins as well as top defenders Mahesh Gawli and Sameer Naik due to injury, took
the sole lead at the top of the table with 12 points. The draw helped Pune FC take their points tally to five.
