Norde pulls Bagan to top with win vs Chennai

Haitian star Sony Norde missed a penalty but made amends with his match-winning goal in a 2-1 win against Chennai City FC vaulting Mohun Bagan to the top of the I-League football standings here on Saturday.

It was Mohun Bagan's fourth consecutive, yet most difficult win of the tournament that put them on 12 points from four matches. Debutants Chennai, who proved to be inspired opponents, remained at the ninth spot with just a point.

Chennai made a match out of the contest when Brazilian striker Marcos Tank put them ahead in the 52nd minute, capitalising on a defensive mistake by Brazil born defender Eduardo Ferreira.

But Mohun Bagan pulled level four minutes later with Indian international Jeje Lalpekhlua's third goal of the tournament and then star winger Haitian Sony Norde made amends for a missed penalty to score in the 77th minute.

The match was tied 0-0 at halftime. Mohun Bagan's Norde missed a penalty in the 35th minute. Stepping up to take the spot kick, after being tripped inside the box, he drove his shot to the right of Chennai goalkeeper Karanjit Singh who dived correctly for a block.

In Shillong, local boy Rupert Nongrum and new Cameroonian striker Aser Dipanda Dicka scored a goal each as Shillong Lajong FC registered their first points with a 2-1 victory over Minerva Punjab FC on Saturday. Loveday Okechukwu reduced the margin for Punjab moments before the final whistle.

It was Shillong's first home match of the tournament and they used their advantage to jump up to the seventh position in the points table.

In Pune, Churchill Brothers FC recorded their first points with a 1-1 draw away at DSK Shivajians. The home side took the lead on 21 minutes through Korean forward Kim Song Yong. But a late 86th-minute header from Adil Ahmed Khan levelled the score.