Jose Molina’s intense clapping from the technical area after Jason Cummings’ late strike reflected how relieved he was. This was another instance where Mohun Bagan Super Giant weren’t deserving winners, but fortune favoured them on this occasion.

Twice trailing, Molina’s men rode on a contentious goal too to beat NorthEast United FC 3-2 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday and break the winless streak while recording their first victory in the ongoing ISL. The fragile Bagan defence was back to having a tough time from NorthEast’s steady, opportunist forward line. But the critical moment arrived just after the quarter of the second half.

NorthEast goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh couldn’t grasp Tom Aldred’s header from close after which, Dimitrios Petratos failed to slot home the rebound. The ball was still in play and captain Subhasish Bose’s kicking boot struck Gurmeet’s gloves while pushing it in.

NorthEast protested, but one of their players and head coach Juan Pedro Benali were booked instead. The scoreline was 2-2 and Bagan were back into the contest.

Since then, NorthEast began to lose their grip on the game while a downpour that lasted for quite some time during the second half didn’t make matters easier for them either. Bagan had begun to up the ante then and substitute Cummings (replacing Manvir Singh in the 59th minute) gave them their moment of glory, converting a precise left-footer off Sahal Abdul Samad (replacing Anirudh Thapa)’s setup three minutes before regulation time.

Jamie Maclaren finally made his Bagan debut, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Petratos. He didn’t have enough scope to do much though.

Earlier, a neat finish from Mohammed Ali Bemammer made it 1-0 for the visitors in the fifth minute before Dippendu Biswas’ header off Petratos restored parity. Alaaeddine Ajaraie, off Jithin MS’ assist, regained the lead for NorthEast, but in the end, the rub of the green just didn’t go their way. That, despite Bagan’s backline not having a settled look right through.