Tollygunge Agragami earned three vital points to distance relegation threats as they wiped out a solitary goal deficit to prevail over Haywards Sporting, Goa 2-1 in an eighth National Football League encounter at Kolkata on Wednesday.

Substitute Habib Ali struck Tollygunge's winner after teammate Sandip Das cancelled an early lead taken by the visitors through Nigerian Abdullatif Seriki at the empty Salt Lake stadium.

It was sweet revenge for Tollygunge who had lost to Haywards 0-1 in the first leg at Goa.

Haywards started off well, establishing early control over the proceedings, and drew first blood in the 16th minute. But Tollygunge came back strongly midway into the opening half with their linkmen and upfronters combining well.

They drew parity in the injury time of the opening half and snatched the lead in the fourth minute of the second half to take their points tally to 13 from as many matches.

Haywards, who have played the same number of matches, have three points more.