East Bengal rode on second half goals from Reisangmi Vashum and substitute Semilen Doungel to seal a 3-1 win over Rangdajied United FC in their round 22 I-League fixture here today.
Edeh Chidi's 16th minute penalty conversion was cancelled out by Rangdajied's Ranti Martins in the 30th minute but Vashum put the red-and-gold brigade back in front in the 45+1st minute while substitute Doungel's 55th minute strike halted RUFC's three-match winning run.
East Bengal moved to top six with 27 points from 17 matches with their win at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
The Kolkata giants beat Rangdajied in the away game also earlier in the season while the Shillong club suffered their third straight away defeat.
It was end-to-end action in the opening stages as both sides looked for an early goal.
East Bengal looked more dangerous though and won a penalty when Chidi was fouled by Lamine Tamba while attempting to get on the end of a Raju Gaikwad long throw.
Chidi stepped up to take the spotkick and successfully found the back of net after sending Rangdajied keeper TP Rehnesh the wrong way.
The visitors looked to respond quickly and nearly equalised when Eugeneson Lyngdoh's overhead kick from a Steven Dias corner was cleared off the line by East Bengal defender Robert Lalthlamuana.
Rangdajied didn't have to wait long for the equaliser though as at the half-hour mark Ranti headed home Dias' well measured cross to score for the fourth straight game.
