East Bengal FC saved its best for the last as two goals in the final quarter from the Kolkata giant consigned Chennaiyin FC to a 1-3 home defeat in the Indian Super League here on Saturday.

Just as the  encounter seemed to be heading towards a stalemate, East Bengal shifted gears when it mattered most.

The visitor went 2-1 up when an unmarked Bipin Singh (83rd minute) applied the easiest of finishing touches after P.V. Vishnu delivered a teasing cross from the left flank. ‘Local boy’ Nandhakumar Sekar (90+6), brought off the bench, put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, with the foundation for the goal being laid by Miguel Ferreira.

With the victory, East Bengal (14 points from seven matches) quietly continued its title charge, while CFC (five points from seven matches) endured its fourth loss of the season.

Earlier, the opening goal arrived in just the seventh minute. After Elsinho suffered a knee injury following a challenge in the middle of the park, the Chennaiyin players waited for the referee’s whistle that never came.

East Bengal caught CFC napping during that sequence of moves as Saul Crespo dished out a defence-splitting pass for Edmund Lalrindika, who beat goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz.

But about 20 minutes later, Irfan Yadwad (28th), another up-and-coming Indian striker, matched Edmund with a clean strike of his own to draw parity.

Picked out by Laldinliana Renthlei with an aerial ball, Irfan timed his run to perfection, shrugged off two defenders and chipped the ball over an advancing Prabhsukhan Gill. The piece of magic was far from enough for Chennaiyin in the end.

The result: Chennaiyin FC 1 (Irfan Yadwad 28) lost to East Bengal FC 3 (Edmund Lalrindika 7, Bipin Singh 83, Nandhakumar Sekar 90+6).