Mike Okoro becomes saviour for Md Sporting in absence of Sunday

Kolkata, Aug 28 (UNI) Surviving some anxious moments in the first half, Mohameddan Sporting edged past fighting George Telegraph by a Mike Okoro goal at the fag end of the match, marred by 20-minute power cut, at Yuba Bharati Krirangan tonight.

The goal came on the 82nd minute as Nigerian Mike Okoro sent a rasping left footer from a Gautam Thakur cross minutes after play resumed.

Power cut held up play, sending the stadium in deep darkness as Md Sporting were desperate to avenge their first leg 0-1 defeat to George Telegraph, who remained on sixteen points from eleven games.

The win propelled Md Sporting to 23 points from eleven, as many as Mohun Bagan's, and five points above East Bengal.

After 2-0 defeat to East Bengal in the previous encounter, Md Sporting were looked toothless in absence of injured Teodore Sunday, who sustained a foot injury in the last match.

George Telegraph were on verge of scoring minutes before water break as Gopal Debnath's shot hit the lower post after goalie Manash Barua fumbled in tracking down the ball.

Before the power went off, Md Sporting also survived following a goalline saving by their defender Rajib Ghosh.

Okoro found his touch when situation demanded as Md Sporting were really on almost on the verge of bagging the league after a gap of 27 years.

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