From correspondents in West Bengal, India, 01:30 AM IST

Title contenders East Bengal stumbled 1-3 against Mohammedan Sporting in an exhilarating encounter of the premier league here Sunday.

The Salt Lake stadium match saw Sporting strike twice through Theodore Sunday, while Mike Okoro found the target once from a penalty kick. Sporting are now atop the league table jointly with defending champions Mohun Bagan, each having gleaned nine points from three outings.

Khelemba Singh got the reducer for East Bengal - on four points from three games - late in the second session.

Sporting started off on an aggressive note and went ahead in the opening minute with Theodore nodding in a flag kick taken by Farooq Hyder.

East Bengal tried hard to draw parity throughout the session but were distinctly unlucky in the 32nd minute as Ashim Biswas's header hit the crosspiece.

East Bengal finally managed to equalise in the 75th minute as Sporting goalkeeper Imran Khan failed to get the measure of a long floater and Khelemba Singh put the ball into the net.

The proceedings became absorbing in the last quarter of an hour as both sides went for the kill.

Sporting snatched the lead in the 85th minute as Theodore launched into a solo, foxed a couple of rival defenders and deftly placed in.

Sporting got the insurance goal in injury time when East Bengal rearguard Anupam Sarkar brought down Sporting medico Bimal Pariar inside the box and Mike Okoro netted the easiest of set pieces.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)