Holder East Bengal mounted a late charge to dismantle Pune FC's 2-1 in a Group ‘C' match and ensure its survival in the 33rd Federation Cup football tournament here on Monday.
Later, Dempo SC retuned to winning form with a convincing 3-1 win over Mohammedan Sporting in the other Group ‘C' match.
In the first match, the desperation, following its 1-1 draw in the opening match against Sporting, was evident in the way East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan forced six changes to the side that played the previous match.
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The start, however, did not go Morgan's way as Pune's coach Derrick Pereira showed better application in arranging his team's defence. He effectively checked East Bengal's offense by plugging the approach route on the flanks.
East Bengal's chances improved when in the 23rd minute Subrata Paul, Pune's most dependable man in its goal, was stretchered off after a collision with the Alan.
Pune waited six long minutes hoping that Paul would get to his feet, then reluctantly replaced him with Amrinder Singh. This started a sequence of injuries for Pune which later saw its two foreign recruits — Guinean striker Keita Mandjou and Nigerian defender Chika Wali — limping off the ground.
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Visibly rejuvenated after Paul was taken off, Alan put an angular left-footed shot past Amrinder to give East Bengal the break in the 42nd minute.
Pune came back strongly in the second session when in the 55th minute Jeje Lalpekhlua sent a looping header to outwit an off-position Nandy.
The winner finally came in the 83rd minute when Amrinder failed to clear a swerving floater from Alan and offered Robin an open goal to shoot home.
East Bengal now has four points from two matches while Pune FC remains on three.
Dempo's Ranti Martins found the target in the second minute before Clifford Miranda doubled the lead in the 25th minute.,Nigerian import Koko Sakibo took the match beyond opponent's grasp making it 3-0 in the 35th minute.
Sporting earned a consolation goal off Stanley Okoroigwe in the 66th minute but crashed out of the tournament netting one point from two matches. Dempo tallied three points from its two outings.
PTI reports from Pune
In Pune, Wahingdoh shocked Churchill Brothers 2-1.
Wahingdoh, which had defeated Mohun Bagan in its first match, moved to six points from two matches while Churchill stays on three.
Captain Seityasen Singh (29th minute), Jackichand Singh (53rd) scored for Wahingdoh, while Henry Arnaud converted a penalty for Churchill in the 72nd minute.
Earlier, a minute's silence was observed prior to the match as a mark of respect for the earthquake victims in Sikkim.