The Hindu : Sport / Football : Air-India downs HASC

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Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007
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Air-India downs HASC

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Air-India overcame Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club (HASC) 3-1 to continue its unbeaten run at home in the ONGC Cup 11th National Football League at the Cooperage ground.

Nigerian forward Bashiru Abbas, later adjudged `man of the match', overlapping wing-back Noel Fernandes and striker Narendra Meetei scored the goals.

Captain Xavier Vijay Kumar reduced the margin for the visitors from Bangalore.

All four goals came off set-pieces. Air-India's defender and throw specialist Uttam Singh, brought on in the 35th minute, hurled the ball to Binoy Kuruvilla near the goal.

Binoy passed the ball to Abbas who scored off an audacious reverse kick. Noel netted the second goal off a flag-kick taken by Paresh Shivalkar while the third was scored by Meetei off a free-kick.

HASC replaced goalkeeper Gumpe Rime with Balaji, but by then the AI attack was in full flow. Xavier's consolation goal for the visitors, promoted into NFL Div. I, came off a corner-kick. Kuttymani's entry into the Bangalore side's forwardline forced AI custodian Raju Ekka into action, once diving full length to clear a swirling long-range effort.

AI and HAL head for away matches in Kolkata.

The Mumbai team, coached by Bimal Ghosh, takes on Mohun Bagan on January 20 while the Bangalore side, coached by Krishnaji Rao, will face Mohammedan Sporting two days later.

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