Former champions Mohun Bagan stumbled yet again, going down 1-2 to Hayward Sporting Clube de Goa in an eighth National Football League match in Kolkata on Friday.
With their title hopes virtually reduced to rubble, Bagan put up an incoherent performance to hand the initiative as also full points to the Goans, who are making their maiden appearance in the high-profile league.
Dudu Omagbemi displayed fine opportunism to net both the goals for the winners, while teenager Sunil Chhetri was the only scorer for Bagan, who now have 19 points from 15 matches.
Haywards, who were at par with the local side on points prior to the Salt Lake stadium match, boosted their tally to 22 points from the same number of matches as Bagan.