Hosts Odisha FC rolled past East Bengal FC with a 2-1 victory to register their second win of the Indian Super League (ISL) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Tuesday.
EBFC head coach Oscar Bruzon brought Saul Crespo in for Nandhakumar Sekar in the 61st minute, and the move yielded instant results, with the midfielder finding the back of the net just four minutes later.
The victory helped Mumbai rise to fourth in the league standings with 23 points from 15 games and stay in reckoning for a play-offs berth with three more games left.
East Bengal FC's next match will be the Kolkata derby against Mohun Bagan on October 19.
Early exchanges saw both sides create half-chances. Suhair Vadakkepeedika provided Lalkhawpuimawia with a decent chance but the forward completely miscued his shot from 12 yards out, to the anger of Jamil on the sideline.
Goa were keen to impose themselves on the Highlanders and came close in the fifth minute. Fernandes played a long diagonal pass from inside his own half to find Mendoza on the flank, but the latter shot straight at keeper Subhasish Chowdhury.
NorthEast United got the better of Mumbai City yet again, doing a double over the Islanders with a 2-1 win in the Hero Indian Super League
