Kolkata: East Bengal thrashed Mohammedan Sporting 3-1 to close the gap with leaders Bengaluru FC by four points and keep their I-League title hopes alive by jumping to third place after their round 24 fixture at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday.
Ryuji Sueoka gave East Bengal the 10th minute lead before Joaquim Abranches (40th) doubled the margin after a howler from Mohammedan Sporting defence.
Mohammedan Sporting had an instant reply with Joshimar D'Silva Martins heading one home after seeing East Bengal custodian Abhra Mondal out of place.
But that was their solitary moment of glory as Edeh Chidi (62nd) completed the rout after an offside Sueoka cleverly let the Nigerian go past him and convert into an open net for their first-ever successive win this season.
The win revived East Bengal's title hopes as they now have 34 points (from 20) compared to Bengaluru's 38 (from 21) in a seven-match unbeaten run.
Laggards Mohammedan Sporting (18 from 21) look certain to be relegated and conclude their top tier sojourn that had come after four seasons.
Mohammedan Sporting have won two titles this season winning both the Durand Cup and the IFA Shield but their I-League performance has been below par as they have only managed one win in their last 13 fixtures having scored 19 goals from 21 matches.
Mumbai FC rally to hold Dempo to 1-1 draw
In Margao, Mumbai FC came from a goal down, through Alfred Jaryan's late goal, to hold high-flying Dempo SC to a 1-1 draw.
Playmaker Roberto Mendes Silva 'Beto' (45+1st) put Dempo SC ahead in the first half before Jaryan (88th) earned Mumbai FC a well-deserved point.
Mumbai FC's thirteenth draw in the season took their tally to 25 points and helped them move up to eighth in the league standings. It took Dempo's tally to 32 points from 22 matches as they remained in fourth position.
After a slow start to the game, Mumbai FC went close through striker Yusif Yakubu in the 10th minute but the Ghanaian couldn't finish the move started by Jayesh Rane.
Six minutes later, Mumbai FC suffered a blow when medio N P Pradeep was injured and had to be taken off with playmaker Climax Lawrence replacing him.
Mumbai FC once again went close midway through the half.
However, substitute Climax on the run, failed to get a touch Arash Hatifie's inch perfect cross inside the box.
Mumbai FC kept on pushing ahead but it was the hosts who took the lead against the run of play in the first minute of injury time. After defender Sandesh Jhingan brought down Jewel Raja, Beto curled in an unstoppable freekick to give Dempo a 1-0 lead going into the breather.
Seven minutes after restart, medio Ashutosh Mehta almost pulled Mumbai FC level. However, the youngster's attempt on Rahul Bheke's long throw-in was blocked by the keeper.
Thereafter Mumbai FC kept on soaking pressure going ahead on the occasional counter attack for majority of the second half. Defender Sandesh was at his best keeping all Dempo attackers at bay.
Into the final ten minutes, Mumbai FC's persistence finally paid off as Jaryan scored two minutes from the full time whistle. Rahul's long throw-in from the right was perfectly headed into the net by the Liberian striker to earn Mumbai FC a point.
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