Coimbatore: Table-toppers Chennai City FC inched closer to their maiden Hero I-League title defeating Mohun Bagan 3-1 at the Nehru Stadium here Sunday.
Chennai City FC, who have been leading the pack since the start of the season, have 40 points under their belt from 17 games.
Second-placed Real Kashmir FC are seven adrift of them whereas East Bengal are eight points shy of the pole.
Mohun Bagan, whose league hope has blown up long ago, will stay stranded in the sixth spot with 26 points from 18 matches.
Chennai City FC fired in three quick goals through Sandro (8th), Nestor Gordillo (15th) and Pedro Manzi (23th). William Lalnunfela got the only consolation goal in the 37th minute but the damage has been already done by then.
Nestor Gordillo, who was in the staggering form since the kick-off, scored one and created a couple to pave the win for his team.
Chennai’s efforts paid early dividends with Nestor drawing the first blood in the 8th minute.
Chennai continued their free-flowing football and took only six minutes to double the lead. On a quick counter-attacking move, Ajitkumar and Nestor played a 1-2 to take it forward. Nestor darted in a terrific pass to an onrushing Sandro who did no mistake to rattle the net in the 14th minute.
Matters got worse when Chennai City FC pumped in their third goal in the 23rd minute through Pedro Manzi to take the scoreline to 3-0 with still two quarters to go for the first half.
William Lalnunfella came to the rescue of the visitors when he scored a brilliant goal in the 37th minute to make it 3-1 but it was hardly enough on the day. (PTI)