Kolkata: Strikes from midfielder Ishfaq Ahmed and forward Thongkhosiem Haokip helped Pune FC clinch an 2-1 away win over East Bengal in an I-League encounter at the Barasat District Sports Stadium on Sunday.
However, it was East Bengal who opened the scoring in the 44th minute courtesy a goal from Nigerian striker Dudu Omagbemi. But Ishfaq and Haokip added two for the visitors to help stay at fifth position in the standings with 26 points from 18 encounters while East Bengal are a rung above with as many points as Pune's but from 17 games.
After an evenly matched contest for the first few minutes, it was Omagbemi who netted the ball for the home side after he latched on to a perfect pass from midfielder Mehtab Hossain.
Barely had the celebrations died down when Pune FC equalised after a delightful cross from their Japanese playmaker Ryuji Sueoka which was headed in by Ishfaq at the far post, the header was a miss-hit but somehow the ball managed to find the back of the net.
The teams went into half-time locked at 1-1.
After the breather, neither team could build up enough quality play near the box to trouble each other's defence but against the run of play, in the 65th minute, a right-footed strike from Haokip eventually proved to be the winner.
He collected the ball from the left and then placed it in the far post, as the ball rattled the net after striking the inside half of the post.
East Bengal tried staging a comeback in the last few minutes but they were kept to long rangers as the Pune FC defence stood strong.
In another match, Fighting to avoid relegation, Dempo and Mumbai FC settled for a goalless draw at the Nehru Stadium on Sunday.
The draw takes Mumbai FC to 18 points from as many matches. While Dempo FC, who have played one match less than their opponent, have 17 points and need to win their next three games to avoid relegation.
Mumbai FC, who showed urgency in attack, had the first chance to score when Rahul Beke's lob from the right saw Josimar leaping high over his marker to head the ball, which was parried away by keeper Laxmikant Kattimani.
A minute later, Allan Dias sent one into the box for Mohammed Rafi, whose header went out with only Kattimani at his mercy.
The tempo of the first half slowed down gradually.
Holicharan Narzary, who created a couple of chances on the left, saw his left-footer hitting the bar and the rebound was cleared by a rival defender.
In the second half, both teams went all out with Mumbai FC finding the net in the 74th minute through Mohammed Rafi's diving header off a Jayesh Rane corner. However, referee A Rowan disallowed it after his assistant called it an off side.
Dempo had their share of chances but a tightly marked Tolgay Ozbey and Francis Fernandes failed to convert them.
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