Kolkata: East Bengal rode on Orji Penn's double to end their I-League first-leg campaign on a high with a 2-1 victory over Air India at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Monday.
Air India started the match without Sandesh Gadkari, Mohammed Shafi and Kali Aluadeen, while East Bengal missed the services of Mehtab Hussain, ruled out due to suspension.
East Bengal dominated early on in the match, with Robin Singh hitting the post of a header in the 13th minute.
In an attacking first-half, East Bengal struck the first blow in the 25th minute when Penn scored through a powerful right-footer that sailed over the goalkeeper's head into the Air India net.
In the 34th minute Robin Singh struck the post a second time off a flick, and the score stayed 1-0 till half-time.
However, after the change-over, Air India scored the equaliser through Henry Ezeh, who put the ball in an open net with hosts' defence nowhere to be seen in the 51st minute.
Then East Bengal woke up from their slumber, with Penn scoring his second and decisive goal in the 73rd minute from a Sanju Pradhan cross from the left.
The win took East Bengal (26 points) past bitter foes Mohun Bagan (24) to third place in the standings. Mohun Bagan will have to win in Pune in their last-round fixture of the first-leg on Tuesday to go past East Bengal.
This win will be a relief of sorts for the East Bengal camp, who had a nightmarish outing in Goa, having suffered a 0-4 humiliation against Salgaocar in a match that witnessed Mehtab Hussain being red-carded followed with midfielder's spat with fellow teammate Tolgay Ozbey.
Without the inspirational playmaker, East Bengal did not look that convincing up front, with Ozbey, Baljit Singh Sahni and Robin Singh showing lack of coordination. But the day belonged to Penn as the Nigerian stole the show with two beautiful strikes.
Having come into the match on a high after upsetting leaders Dempo, Air India capped two losses on the trot, including one against Mohun Bagan in the previous match, to be on 19 points.
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