Last year's golden boot winner, Marcelinho proved to be FC Pune City's saviour as he scored a late goal to hand his team a 1-0 win over NorthEast United FC, here on Wednesday.
When it seemed like the match was heading for a draw following a spate of missed chances at both ends, Marcelinho delivered the winner in the 86th minute.
The goal could prove to be decisive in the final analysis for Pune City as they have now moved to the second spot with 25 points from 14 matches and are much closer to qualification for play-offs.
NorthEast United continues to be at ninth spot with 11 points after 13 matches and may find it difficult to qualify even if they win all their remaining five matches.
NorthEast United had done well to keep a clean slate till the late stages of the match when their poor record at home came to haunt them.
NorthEast United have not managed to keep a clean sheet at home since their first home match and they conceded at the fag end.
It was Marcelinho who got the goal that Pune were hunting for all night and came when the visitors had pulled out their top scorer Emiliano Alfaro.
ATK aim to salvage pride
Kolkata: Smarting from four consecutive defeats, ATK will hope to salvage some pride when they take on a resurgent Kerala Blasters FC in an Indian Super League football fixture here on Thursday.
The two-time champions suffered their fourth defeat in a row when they lost 0-2 to Bengaluru FC in the previous match, ending their title hopes.
ATK are the most successful franchise of the ISL but the team think tank chose to overhaul the squad this season, walking out of a successful partnership with Spain's La Liga team Atletico Madrid.
Former Manchester United star Teddy Sheringham was roped in as the chief coach as the team had a distinctive English touch but was shown the door after just 10 matches.
Technical director Ashley Westwood, the I-League winning Bengaluru FC coach, was given the interim charge but there was no change in their fortunes.
Even the club's owners have accepted the team was in the middle of a disastrous season and blamed it on the new setup.