With this win, Churchill took their tally to 36 points from 18 matches and toppled Sporting Clube De Goa from the top of the table by one point. Meanwhile, Bagan remain on third place with 33 points from 17 matches.

After Odafa Okolie neutralised Jose Ramirez Barreto’s 29th minute strike in the stoppage time of the first half, Kalu scored in the 58th and 76th minute to put the hosts in front.

The first half was confined to midfield initially with both the teams playing cautiously with their defence giving nothing away.

Lalkamal Bhowmick combined well with Shylo Malswamtlunga as they built moves mostly from the right flanks trying to meet Barreto. Bhowmick picked up the ball on the right and sent it to Barreto who chested it and beat Rowilson Rodrigues and with rival keeper Arindam Bhattacharya leaving his charge, placed the ball to the far post.

Churchill, however, kept on pressing and found the equaliser in the stoppage time of the first half when an Okolie header found the net off a flag kick taken by Khan Thang Paite.

The goal acted as a tonic for Churchill as they attacked Bagan citadel in waves. Kalu, who controlled the midfield, put the hosts in front in the 58th minute as he picked the ball from the centre and relayed it to Odafa who split the defence with a forward pass back to Kalu. The latter’s deft placement hit the post and found the back of the net.

Bagan’s attack lacked sting in the absence of skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, who missed the match due to double-booking. His substitute PC Lalawmpuia was off-colour. With Barreto also limping off the field after aggravating an injury, Kalu sealed Bagan’s fate with his second goal in the 76th minute as he worked his way with a one-to-one pass with Okolie.

Bagan’s Peter Odafe was shown the yellow card.

“The equaliser by Odafa and the injury to Barreto were the turning points as our team surrendered in the second half,” Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa said after the match. “We are still in the race for the title as we have five more matches to play and anything can happen,” he added.