Calcutta: Mohun Bagan's chances of winning the I League brightened considerably on Wednesday, as they regained their top spot in the I League with a 2-0 win over Royal Wahingdoh, at the Barasat Stadium.

Bagan are tied with Bengaluru FC at 35 points, but they occupy the top spot for having beaten Ashley Westwood's team at home during the first phase of the competition.

It was Pritam Kotal and Sony Norde, who scored on either side of the break to ensure that Sanjay Sen's men returned with full points.

Royal coach, Santosh Kashyap, however, was all praise for his young team. He lauded the boys for the spirit they showed against a tough opposition like Bagan. "Mohun Bagan are a very strong team, and I am extremely proud of my boys for the fight they put up. They are a young side and have done exceedingly well," Kashyap said.

Mohun Bagan coach, Sanjay Sen, on the other hand, sounded confident of being a title contender. "As I had said earlier, we are in contention. A win is a win and full points today have helped us get back on top. But what will matter in the end is the title. If we don't win, it wouldn't be of any importance whether we were at the top or whether we had an unbeaten run," he said after the match.

The city giants need a victory in their next match against Sporting Clube de Goa at home. That would ensure that when they meet Bengaluru FC in their last match, they would be sure of the title unless they lose by three goals.

Sony showed his class scoring off a set piece in the 62nd minute. Getting a free-kick just outside the box, he bend home a left-footer that left the Royal custodian stranded. Lallawmzuala had brought down Katsumi Yusa just in front of the box, and of the resultant free-kick, the Haitian made no mistake.

With Bagan up 2-0, the visitors kept trying to have a crack at goal but Bekay Bewar, Jackichand Singh and Loveday could not utilise the opportunities that came their way.

At half-time, Bagan were leading by the lone goal that came in the most unlikely fashion from Pritam Kotal. Prtiam was actually trying to send a cross to the far post where Balwant Singh was lurking. But the flight of the ball caught goalkeeper N. Bernard off-guard and nestled at the back of the net.

But apart from the goal, the first half was a story of missed opportunities for Mohun Bagan. They hardly showed the intent needed to overcome their recent setbacks and stay focused on the I-League title. For both Sony - before he unleashed that mind-blowing free-kick - and Balwant, it seemed that they had left their scoring boots at home. It's not that they didn't get opportunities, but it was strange the way they kept failing.

The Royal defence, on the other hand, wore a ragged look. But with the small ground at Barasat, to which the teams will now have to get accustomed with as the Salt Lake Stadium is closed for renovation, it took Bagan some time to settle down.

Sony gradually showed good intent along with Katsumi, but the first half will be remembered more for the chances lost. In the 24th minute, Sony got a golden opportunity with only the Royal goalkeeper to take care of. But he shot wide.

Bagan had another decent chance of scoring in the 16th minute as well with a well-coordinated move that saw Balwant crossing to Katsumi on the right. Katsumi left it for Jeje who put it forward for a free Sony who failed to find the mark.

A few minutes after Bagan doubled their lead, Royal had a golden chance to reduce the deficit, but Bekay Bewar could only hit the side-netting after being fed with a through ball by Jackichand Singh. In the 68th minute, after a free-kick from the right, Loveday had put Bagan goalie Shilton Paul under immense pressure and the Bagan captain's weak fist hit the lower side of the bar.

TEAMS

Mohun Bagan: Shilton Paul, Pritam Kotal, Bello Rasaq, Kinshuk Debnath, Sukhen Dey; Katsumi Yusa, Souvik Chakraborty (Bikramjit Singh 70), Sehnaj Singh, Sony Norde; Jeje Lalpekhlua, Balwant Singh (Pierre Boya, 82).

Royal Wahingdoh: Nikhil Bernard; Naoba Singh (Nadong Bhutia, 82), Lallamzuala, Reagan Singh, Lalchawnkima, Loveday Okechukwu, Godwin Franco, Jackichand Singh, Seityasen Singh, Densil Theobald, Kim Song Yong (Bekay Bawar, 54).

Referee: Tejas Nagvengkar

MoM: Pritam Kotal.