Mohun Bagan 2-1 Mumbai FC - The Mariners Ride On Odafa Okolie's Brace To Edge Past Khalid Jamil's Side

Mohun Bagan overturned a one goal deficit to come away with all three points against Mumbai FC, with a 2-1 win at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday.

Odafa was the hero for the Mariners yet again, as his second half brace, the first from the penalty spot in the 74^th minute and the second in the 81^st minute, helped quell the challenge posed by Khalid Jamil’s side, who had taken the lead through Gbeneme Friday’s effort in the 24^th minute.

The hosts made three changes from the team that took on East Bengal as Syed Rahim Nabi, Hudson Silva and Sunil Chhetri all missed out, with N. Mohanraj, Snehasish Chakrabarty and Ashim Biswas taking their place.

Khalid Jamil meanwhile made two changes, as Malsawmkima C. and Darren Caldeira were named in the starting eleven.

The away side, spurred on after their morale boosting win against Churchill Brothers in the last gameweek, started the brighter of the two teams and held on to possession well.

P.C Lalwampuia, Friday and Cavin Lobo tested Sangram Mukherjee in goal with attempts in the first 20 minutes. However Mukherjee was equal to all of their efforts, but it was evident that Mumbai FC were the team on the frontfoot.

The eventually made their superiority tell, as Friday collected a long ball superbly on his chest and outmuscled Anwar Ali before slotting in the opener.

The goal jolted the Kolkata based outfit back into action, as they pressed forward with more purposes, but found it difficult to get past an inspired Mumbai FC defence, with Sanjiban Ghosh also holding firm in defence.

Haroon Fakhruddin and Puia then had chances to put the away side further ahead, but they failed to truly trouble Mukherjee in-between the sticks.

The half ended with Subrata Bhattacharya’s men unable to pull level with the visitors.

The second half’s first real chance went to Lobo, whose brilliant effort was somehow scampered away for a corner by the Mariners custodian.

The hosts then had a couple of opportunities of their own, but the final ball seemed to be missing, as Odafa was frustrated by Kingsley Chioma and his fellow defenders in the final third.

However, Dhanchandra L. handed the home side a way back into the game, when he fouled Jewel Raja inside the box. Odafa Okolie converted the ensuing penalty to level the scoreline in the 74^th minute.

Friday had a chance to immediately put Mumbai FC ahead yet again, but he squandered a golden opportunity and the away side were duly punished when Odafa Okolie took advantage of a goalkeeping howler by Ghosh to put the Mariners ahead in the 81^st minute.

The hosts then held on in the final minutes to take home all three points, which keeps them alive in the championship.