Bhaichung Bhutia after scoring Mohun Bagan’s first goal on Thursday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: Carlos Roberto Pereira’s strategy paid off. Playing according to the plan, Mohun Bagan earned a crucial 2-1 victory over Churchill Brothers in a Round XIV match of the ONGC I-League at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday evening.

While captain Bhaichung Bhutia’s fourth-minute strike saw the green and maroons surge ahead, Man of the Match Habibur Rehman Mondal made it 2-0 after 31 minutes. Not to be outdone, Churchill hit back in the 38th minute via Mboyo Iyomi, who converted an Okolie Odafe pass from a huddle inside the Bagan box in an exhilarating first half.

However, the hosts were pushed to the wall in the second half as they went into a defensive shell.

Churchill, who held Mohun Bagan 1-1 in the first leg, started back-to-back forays into the rival citadel. It was due to the combined effort of Peter Odafe and N.S. Manju that the dangerous Odafe was kept at bay.

The win took Mohun Bagan to fourth spot with 24 points while Churchill Brothers are second with 26.

TEAMS

Mohun Bagan: Sangram Mukherjee, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, N.S. Manju, Habibur Rehman Mondal, Rauf Khan (Tapan Maity 57), Jose Ramirez Barreto, Douglas Silva (P.C. Lalawmpuia 54), Peter Odafe, Bhaichung Bhutia, Lalkamal Bhowmick (Anit Ghosh 83), N. Mohan Raj.

Churchill Brothers: Vinay Singh, Govin Mojranginem, Thockchom Naoba Singh (Vales Jaison 87), Mboyo Iyomi, Okolie Odafe, Khan Thang Paite (Durai Raju 76), Reisangmi Vashum (Mashangva Zenith Genius 70), Chandam Singh, Robert Lalthlamuana, Gouramanngi Moirangthem, Ogba Kalu Nnanna.

Referee: S. Suresh

MoM: Habibur Rehman Mondal

Meanwhile in Margao, Man of the Match Climax Lawrence’s brace helped Dempo beat JCT 2-1 in their Round XIV match on Thursday.