A penalty kick conversion in the 90th minute helped Mahindra United, Mumbai, beat Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore, by a solitary goal in an Oil PSU-National Footall league match in Bangalore on Saturday.
The match seemed heading for a draw after both teams exchanged some good moves and put up a strong defence. But ITI skipper Sunil Kumar obstructed Mahindra's Brazilian striker Ednei Jose Damasio in the box and and referee S Suresh promptly awarded a spot-kick to the Mumbai team, which Damasio converted.
With this win, Mahindra's points tally rose to 13. ITI have only three points from 12 matches.
ITI began on a promising note and made some strong moves. The forwards repeatedly launched raids on the Mahindra goal but muffed at least half a dozen scoring chances.
They nearly scored in the 21st minute, but Jude Nwadu shot out after intercepting a neat pass from James Singh. In the 23rd minute, Suresh's long ranger hit the post. Najeeb missed another chance in the 42nd minute.
Mahindra also missed a scoring chance in the 27th minute, when R C Prakash failed to strike.
Mahindra had their best chance in the first minute of the second-half when Damasio made a powerful effort, off a Khalid Siddique pass, but ITI custodian Gumpe Rime effected a save.
Mahindra missed a couple of chances later. Both Damasio and Abhishek Yadav of Mahindra were shown the yellow card.