Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan opened their campaign in the Durand Cup Football Tournament with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Clube de Goa at the Ambedkar stadium in Delhi on Sunday.
The match, which was petering out to a goalless conclusion, came alive in the final 20 minutes as Bagan found the net through Dulal Biswas (73rd minute) and Brazilian Jose Ramirez Barreto (75th).
Nigerian Macpherlin Dudu pulled one back for the Goa league champions in the 79th minute of the Group 'A' quarter-final league encounter.
In the other match in the same pool, defending National Football League and Federation Cup champions Mahindra United beat their Mumbai rivals Air India by the same margin.
Mahindra's European import Filipe Azevedo, who comes to India after playing in France, Portugal and Russia, scored in the 34th and 45th minutes, while Paresh Shivalkar found the net for Air India in the 65th.
The clash between the Bengal and Goan powerhouses started at a fast pace and there was a physical edge to the encounter with tackles flying in and referee P Basker needing a firm eye on the proceedings. He brandished five yellow cards -- three to Bagan and two to Sporting players.