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Kayne Vincent's injury time goal enabled Prayag United shock Kingfisher East Bengal 1-0 in the I-League match at the Yuba Bharati Krinangan in Kolkata on Tuesday.
The victory took Prayag United to 32 points from 18 matches, just two points behind Red and Gold brigade, who have 34 points from as many outings.
East Bengal started with a lone striker in Tolgay Ozbey upfront, while Prayag had Vincent playing just behind their Brazilian striker, Joshimar.
The match did not have many open chances, East Bengal having only four shots on target in the entire match and Prayag United five.
The best chance of the first-half fell to East Bengal, when Tolgay tried to find the back of the net with a header, which was brilliantly saved by Prayag goalkeeper Abhijjeet Mondal.
James Singh's effort in the 62nd minute had 'goal' written all over it, but East Bengal 'keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu dived to his right to bring off a good save.
Edmilson Marques, the new striker who replaced Alan Gow in the East Bengal team, came in for Penn Orji in the 72nd minute but was hardly allowed a clear look at the rival goal.
The all-important goal came in the 92nd minute following an East Bengal a corner. Their goalkeeper, Sandhu, left his charge and went up to the Prayag's box to help in what could have been the last chance of the match. However, as the ball was cleared, Vincent trapped it, ran towards an empty East Bengal half and tapped it home past Saumik Dey, who made a vain attempt to stop the ball with his hands.
The loss has certainly dented East Bengal's title hopes while Prayag United are back in hunt for the top spot.
Vincent was adjudged man of the match.