Skipper Paresh Shivalkar unleashed a superb angular shot in the second half to power local outfit Air India to a 1-0 victory over Kolkata giants East Bengal in an I-League football tie at the Cooperage ground here on Monday.

Shivalkar cracked a first-timed right-footer from inside the box, off a centre from the right, to beat East Bengal custodian Subrata Pal all ends up and bulge the right corner in the 61st minute.

After the goal AI defence stood firm and held East Bengal at bay to notch their first win in six matches.

The spadework for the Airmen’s match-winner was done by their African import Bashiru Abbas after a surge down the middle and passed the ball to the Vijith Shetty, who send the cross across the goalmouth for Shivalkar to volley it home.

With this win AI have boosted their tally to seven. The Kolkata outfit, who slumped to their third defeat in seven ties, also remained on seven points.

Both the teams wasted scoring chances in the opening half with Brazilian Edmilson being the main culprit.

Edmilson booted wide of the post in the eighth minute of the match after being fed by Alvito D’Cunha with a chipped pass.

After his team nearly conceded an own goal in the 22nd minute, Edmilson once again fluffed a gilt-edged chance by nodding over the bar from close following a corner kick by the left-footed D’Cunha. The local outfit dominated the initial part of the second half with a hard-working midfield creating chances. Eleven minutes into the half Samson Singh’s dipping shot was well-saved by East Bengal custodian Pal before he was beaten hands down by Shivalkar’s essay to give AI the lead.