I-League: Duffy brace scripts Mohun Bagan's thrilling win against Aizawl FC

Mohun Bagan registered a thrilling 3-2 win over gritty Aizawl FC in an entertaining I-League football match to keep pace with league leaders East Bengal at the floodlit Rabindra Sarovar Stadium here on Saturday.

Darryl Duffy (2nd, 84th) scored a brace either side of Aizawl FC's two goals to hand his side the much-needed win. Jeje Lalpekhlua also scored in the 63rd minute. 

For the visitors, Jayesh Rane (41st) and Asutosh Mehta (70th) were the scorers. 

Bagan are now on 16 points from six games, same as East Bengal who are ahead only on goal difference.

It took Bagan two minutes to nose ahead. Duffy scored his fifth goal of the campaign to join CK Vineeth and Dipanda Dicka as the league's top scorers.

The Scottish striker stooped low to nod in Yusa Katsumi's cross from the left flank and beat his marker Kingsley Eze.

Prabir Das had another golden opportunity to double the tally soon after but the Atletico de Kolkata full-back skied his effort from in front of an empty net.

Aizawl regrouped well and had their share of chances as well with Alfred Jaryan coming close.

In the 41st minute, the visitors equalised. Kamo Bayi squared the ball for Rane to tap in as the first half ended 1-1.

In the second half, Jeje gave Bagan the lead for the second time in the match, scoring off a Prabir Das pass. But all was not over for Aizawl as Mehta headed in Rane's corner with ten minutes remaining.

Mehta turned villain four minutes later, hacking down Katsumi to gift Bagan a penalty. Duffy stepped up to place the ball in the bottom right corner as the home crowd erupted in joy.

In the other game of the day, Debutants Minerva Punjab Football Club beat Mumbai FC 2-1 to register their maiden win in I-League.

Baoringdao Bodo (57th minute) and Anirudh Thapa (66th) scored for the Punjab side while Albeit Karan Sawhney (77th) pulled one back for Mumbai.

The win came after Minerva Punjab held Churchill Brothers to a draw in a creditable performance on Wednesday.

Mumbai, on the other hand, slumped to their fifth loss on the trot. They had won their opening two matches before losing the next five.

Minerva managed to score their first goal in the second half after a deflected cross from Anirudh Thapa and Bodo was there at the right place at the right time.

The next one came in quick succession for the home team after Thapa scored a free-kick goal which landed at the net beating Kattimani at the 

far post.

Mumbai went for more attack and it was all down to Steven Dias' in swinging corner which was headed onto goal by Sawhney by beating goalkeeper Arnab Das.

Minerva Punjab FC jumped to the ninth spot at the table with five points whereas Mumbai are at sixth spot with six points.