by
Riding on a brace from Nigerian striker Odafa Okolie, McDowell Mohun
Bagan defeated Air India 3-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium to move upto 24 points in the I-League table.
Man of the Match Odafa scored one apiece for Bagan in both halves – the first in the 41st minute and the second in the 84th minute. Ashim Biswas completed the rout for Bagan in the 80th minute. In between, Md. Safi had restored parity in the 54th minute. While Bagan are on 24 points from 12 matches, Air India stay on 19 points from 12 matches.
Bagan started with 3 foreigners — the duo of Barreto and Lima marshalling the midfield and Odafa Okalie staying upfront.
It was Odafa Okolie who opened the scoring for MMB in the 41st minute when after receiving a Lima pass, he shrugged off two defenders and placed the ball past Air India keeper Pawan.
In the second half, Air India started on a positive note and were rewarded when Md. Safi went past Barreto to slot home past Bagan goalkeeper Sangarm Mukherjee in the 54th minute.
Just when it looked like Bagan would have to settle for another draw, Ashim Bsiwas put Bagan in the lead – and with a gem off a goal. Biswas trapped a pass from Rakesh Masih and finding the angle too close for him to have a go at the goal from the top of the box, he sidestepped Lamine to blast it home.
Odafa completed the rout in the 84th minute – a solo effort which started just outside the box and ended in the net with four defenders and the goalkeeper beaten.
