East Bengal continued to lead the Hero I-League table after Round 11 thanks to a convincing 3-1 win over defending champions Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore on Saturday. The Red and Gold Brigade took a first-half lead through in-form Haitian forward Wedson Anselme, who broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute. The league leaders then stretched their lead in the second period courtesy of a brace from former Bengaluru man Robin Singh (FC Goa).

Robin made it 2-0 for East Bengal in the 54th minute after executing a powerful header to nod home a Robert Lalthlamuana (Atlético de Kolkata) cross from the left. He completed his brace five minutes later as Rowllin Borges (NorthEast United FC) produced a delightful cross towards the far post for Chris Payne, who chested the ball in the direction of Robin for him to convert from close range.

The hosts did pull one back in the 85th minute after intelligent interplay between Sunil Chhetri (Mumbai City FC) and Udanta Singh (Mumbai City FC) saw the latter being put through clear into the penalty area. Udanta managed a low and dangerous cross across the face of the goal, which CK Vineeth (Kerala Blasters FC) bundled over the goal-line at the far post to make it 3-1 as Bengaluru succumbed to their third loss of the season.

Meanwhile, this season’s surprise package Aizawl FC moved into second place,just a point behind East Bengal after beating Chennai City 1-0 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl on Saturday with Brandon Vanlalremdika scoring the only goal of the game eight minutes after the restart.

Elsewhere, Churchill Brothers moved away from the bottom of the table with a comfortable 3-0 victory against DSK Shivajians at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco da Gama in Goa on Sunday. Anthony Wolfe, Ansumana Kromah and Surabuddin Mollick scored for the Red Machines as they registered their second win of the season. Sunday’s other match featuring Mumbai FC and Minerva Punjab at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai ended in a 0-0 draw.

After Round 11 East Bengal top the table with 24 points from 11 games with Aizawl in second on 23 points. Mohun Bagan are in third spot with 21 points having played two games fewer than East Bengal and Aizawl. Meanwhile, Bengaluru’s title defence looks all but over having taken just 13 points from 10 games, which sees them in fifth spot in the standings, sandwiched between Shillong Lajong and Minerva Punjab, who are fourth and sixth respectively. Churchill’s win saw them move to eighth spot after 11 games, meaning I-League debutants Chennai City find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table with eight points following the latest round of matches.