Mumbai: Hosts Air India rallied from a goal
down to defeat visitors Salgaocar Sports Club 2-1 and
register their first home win of the I-League in the round 11
match at the Cooperage ground here today.
The Goan club went ahead in the 26th minute through
Avneet Singh Shergiu, while the hosts restored parity through
an own goal in the 42nd minute. Skipper Vijeth Shetty scored
the winner (79th) for the airmen.
The hosts, who lost their previous match 0-5 against
Mohun Bagan, now have eight points from ten matches with this
win, while Salgaocar have seven from 10 matches.
The visitors began well enjoying more of the ball
possession in the first 30 minutes and attacking the rival
goal post.
Their efforts finally bore fruit, when a well placed shot
by Avneet off a pass from the right, got them the lead.
However, the Airmen came back well as a Ravinder Singh
cross from outside the box deflected off a defender into the
goal post as the teams went into half-time levelled 1-1.
Both the teams had an opportunity each to get the second
goal but while Salgaocar's Keita Mandtou found the back of the
net, Air India' N D Opara's strike from the Centre hit the
crossbar.
However, Air India made amends as Ravinder's cross was
chested by Md Dada Nabeel towards Vijeth who guided the ball
in.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 22, 2010, 22:58