Ghanaian striker Yusif Yakubu's 87th-minute goal helped Prayag United SC beat Mumbai FC 3-2 in a Group D encounter of the Rose Valley 116th IFA Shield football tournament at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday.
Yakubu scored twice while Denson Devadas struck once as United SC erased a goal's deficit to make a late turn-around in the match. Nigerian striker Gbeneme Friday had given Mumbai FC the lead before C. Malswamkima scored the team's second goal after the break.
The sides started on an even note and sought to find the early advantage, which eventually went the visitor's way following some fine exchanges. It found the lead in the 25th minute when Friday, showing a fine sense of position, got in line of a measured cross from midfielder Nicholas Rodrigues and nodded home past the United SC custodian Abhijit Mondal.
Friday could well have doubled the lead in the 41st minute, when he intercepted a miscued clearance from United defender Bello Rasaq. His lob, intended to beat an onrushing Mondal, went a bit high over the bar.
United doubled the initiative after the break and found the equaliser in the 70th minute off Devadas, who availed a corner to find the target. Yakubu gave United the lead in the 77th minute by nodding home a Dipak Mondal free-kick.
After Mumbai forward Cavin Lobo had seen his 71st-minute effort rebounding off the United SC upright, Malswamkima found the target in the 80th minute with spectacular volley to level the score.
Yakubu realised the win for United SC when he latched on to a nice assist from substitute Kayne Vincent and beat the Mumbai custodian Sanjiban Ghosh with a perfect finish.
The win took United SC on top of the three-team table with three points while Mumbai FC crashed out with just one point in its tally.
