Mahindra down Bagan

Brazilians Rodrigo De Almeida and Flavio Rodrigues netted a goal each to power Mumbai's Mahindra United past Mohun Bagan 2-0 in a National Football League match in Mumbai on Saturday.

The Brazilian duo, under fire for their uninspiring displays in the past, found the target in the 54th and 88th minute after a goalless first half.

Almeida gave Mahindras the lead taking advantage of an unmarked position and firing home a diagonal pass from his compatriot Flavio.

Later Flavio fired home from the penalty spot to the left of Bagan's controversial custodian Subroto Paul, who charged the striker while going for a high ball to concede the spot-kick.

The victory boosted Mahindras tally to 24 points from 16 ties, enabling them to shoot their way from the sixth position past JCT Mills and Fransa Pax, both on 22 points, to the fourth position in the NFL standings.

Bagan, meanwhile remained seventh with 17 points from 16 clashes.

Overall, the enounter at the Cooperage was listless for the most part with both the teams fighting for mid-field superiority.

The Kolkatans muffed two chances to score, once in each half. In the 17th minute none was in position inside the boxb to turn in a goalmouth cross from Tomba Singh and then towards the fag end Mahindra custodian Nandy Singh effected a smart save off a sharp left-footed try by Mehtab Hussain.

The home team, for whom their deep defence stood out once again, could have increased the margin had not Almeida's rasping waist high drive missed the target.