Mumbai champions Mahindra United scored once in each half to shock league leaders East Bengal 2-0 in the seventh OIL-PSU National Football League at the Cooperage in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Mahindra went ahead through winger Mongba Aby Samson's superb free-kick from the top of the box in the 33rd minute and increased the lead in the 66th minute when medio L James Singh was bang on target with a left-footer off Samson's cross from the left.
With this win, the Mumbai outfit has garnered 26 points while the Kolkata outfit have 43 points with just two rounds to go.
A rejuvenated Mahindra made the first good move in the eighth minute when winger Khalid Jamil shot wide with just the custodian Sandip Nandy to beat.
In the 30th minute East Bengal striker Alvito D'Cunha's free-kick was well saved by Mahindra custodian Naseem Akhtar, who had a fantastic match.
Three minutes later the home team took the lead and soon after East Bengal medio S Malsawmtunga's try was well saved by the ever agile Akhtar.
Akhtar again came to his team's rescue when he fisted away East Bengal winger Dipankar Roy's try. The rebound went to medio Chandan Das, who failed to pierce the Mahindra defence.
Mahindra next take on Vasco, Goa, at the same venue on April 28.
Photograph: Jewella C Miranda
