Substitute Dipendu Biswas struck late as Mohun Bagan edged past Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 in an 11th National Football League match in Kolkata on Friday.
After putting up a dour fight for most part of the match, played at Barasat stadium, Sporting's defence collapsed in the 89th minute as Bagan went all out for goal.
The goal was the product of a fast and sudden move that saw Dipendu put the ball home in a flash, sending Bagan fans into a frenzy.
Soon after the goal, Bagan got two more gilt-edged opportunities, but Barreto and Lalampuiya muffed them.
Sporting were the better team in the first half as they drummed up a good rhythm -- their medios and strikers combining well -- but failed to make an impressionon the Bagan goal.
Bagan, who were robbed of the services of several of their regulars because of injury and national duty, had to field a boy from their academy. They, were, however, lucky not to have conceded a goal in the first half. Louis Preston and Guy Ndem repeatedly created havoc in rival territory, but failed in the shooting zone.
In the 11th minute, Preston put the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed as he was pulled up for a foul on Dipak Mandal.
Sporting got another chance in the 18th minute as Mandal faltered, but their strikers could not go for the kill.
At the other end, Lalampuiya fed Barreto, but the Brazilian was unable to control the ball.
A little later Barreto got another opportunity, but his header sailed over the bar.