Syed Rahim Nabi (left) and Manish Maithani celebrate after the former scored Mohun Bagan’s first goal against Dempo, on Sunday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: Syed Rahim Nabi did the star turn as he scored one and set up another to help McDowell Mohun Bagan defeat Dempo SC 2-1 in an I-League match, at the Kalyani Stadium, on Sunday.

Bagan captain Okolie Odafe scored the other goal. For Dempo, Peter Carvalho reduced the margin.

Despite the win, Bagan remained at the bottom place with 13 points from 18 matches while Dempo slipped to fifth from fourth with 35 points from 22 matches.

The win certainly made Nabi happy. “It feels really nice to contribute … I just tried to give my best on the field today. Thankfully, it all came good,” said Nabi.

Bagan’s other goal-scorer Odafe said it was a crucial win for the side.

“I did miss a number of chances… But then, squandering chances is part and parcel of the game. On any other day, they could have gone in. I was also a bit tired, having recovered from fever a couple of days earlier.

“This was a crucial tie for us. It was important that we get three points… And we are happy that we have achieved that,” said Odafe.

After their pathetic performance in the last match, Bagan had to get their act right quickly. On Sunday, they achieved that by playing like an unit.

The difference between the two sides was Bagan’s wing play. Nabi, on the right, and Sabeeth, on the left, were aggressive from the start and gave the much-needed width to the Bagan attack.

The best part of their game was they fought for every ball, often intercepting the opponent’s passes.

The first goal came in the seventh minute. Sabeeth sent a cross from the right and the Dempo defence was busy marking Tolgay Ozebe. Nabi just the way he does so often, came from the blindside and headed it home.

Compared to the wingers’ performances, the central midfielders — Denson Devadas and Manish Maithani — could have given a far better display than what they dished out on Sunday.

They were never in the groove and the Dempo midfielders used the free space to play unnumerable passes.

That the Goan team could not find a goal in the first half was because of a certain Anyichie Echezona in the Bagan defence. With Mehrajuddin Wadoo having another bad in office, Echezona took it upon himself to snuff out every attack of the opponent.

If Echezona gave Bagan the stability at the back, Odafe gave them the strength and firepower upfront.

Such is his charisma on the field, that Tolgay’s pathetic form is getting overlooked.

Odafe is one of the most consistent finishers in Indian football and he didn’t disappoint the Bagan fans on Sunday. Two minutes into the second half, Odafe fired home a right-footer after Nabi released him with a magnificent pass.

However, Bagan’s lead was reduced three minutes later when Anthony Pereira’s cross from the right was headed in by Carvalho.

The Dempo midfielders worked tirelessly in search of the equaliser. But the poor form of their strikers — Koko Sakibo and Jonny D Menyongar — hurt their chances.

Bagan, on the other hand, could have extended their lead in the 86th minute but Quinton Jacobs’ right-footer hit the post.