Edeh Chidi on Friday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: Star Mohun Bagan striker Edeh Chidi had said after their last CFL Premier Division match, against George Telegraph, that he wanted a bit of rest before the upcoming Federation Cup.

On Friday, during Bagan’s 1-0 win over Mohammedan AC, it was proved how important the Nigerian sharpshooter is for the green and maroon brigade.

It was Chidi’s 87th minute strike that bailed Karim Bencherifa’s side out of trouble when Mohammedan AC was almost set to snatch a point from them.

It was Bagan’s sixth win in as many matches and, with 18 points, they continue to lead the league table.

Substitute Snehashis Chakraborty sprinted down the left and sent a measured cross for Japanese Ryuji Sueoka. Ryuji’s tap was intercepted by opposition custodian Raju Ekka but the ball bounced off his chest and Chidi banged home the rebound. The Mohammedan AC players, however, alleged that Ryuji, while tapping the ball, had hit Ekka.

The furious Mohammedan AC coach, Pranab Chakraborty, said that they will lodge a written complaint with the Indian Football Association regarding the quality of supervision by referee Biplab Poddar.

The main problem with Bagan on the day was the rusty show by their two wingers — Ishfaq Ahmed and Tomba Singh.

TEAMS

Mohun Bagan: Shilton Paul, Zenith Genius, Sheikh Azim, Sagram Mandi, Biswajit Saha, Tomba Singh, Subha Kumar (Snehashis Chakraborty, 67th), Souvik Chakraborty (Subhajit Majumdar, 86th), Ishfaq Ahmed (Branco Cardozo, 66th), Chidi Edeh, Ryuji Sueoka

Mohammedan AC: Raju Ekka (Satya Paul, 89th), Raju Kolay, Tapan Giri, Subhankar Nag, Prashanta Sarkar, Buddha Maity, Surabuddin Mullick, (Kshetri Dev, 90+2), Mohammed Yasin, Omaloja, Shaheed, Sheikh Shahnawaz

Referee: Biplab Poddar

MoM: Edeh Chidi