Air India edge out HASC

 Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club’s dismal season continued after the Bangalore side went down to Air India 1-2 in the I-League at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Sunday.

First half strikes from Henry Ezeh (38th) and Sandeep Sangha (45th) consigned HASC to their 15th defeat of the campaign. A Hamza scored the consolation goal for HASC four minutes from time.

HASC stay bottom with a measly six points from 19 matches while Air India are ninth with 27 points.

In a fast-paced match, Air India went up 2-0 before halftime and defended their lead for the most part. In the 26th minute, Manjit set up a move from the left and sent a cross to Bijoy Basfore, who missed a sitter inside the box. A free-kick earned in the 37th minute worked for Air India as HASC goalkeeper P Pramod only managed to punch it back into play.

The ball went wide on the right wing where Basfore collected it and sent it back high into the box. Henry leapt highest to head it into the back of the net.

Air India’s second goal came out of the blue, when Sandeep Sangha finally managed to find the net on a curling shot, about 40 yards from the post.

Sangha actually had sent the ball for Henry to head and Pramod was eyeing the Air India striker. Instead, the ball angled and dropped into the netting from the top of the post leaving the HASC goalkeeper flummoxed.

On resumption, there was no let up from either side as the pace of the match continued with Malemngamba Meitei sending neat defence splitting passes. With just four minutes left, Meitei moved from the left and sent the ball into the box for Hamza score.

In Margao, Pune FC held onto Arata Izumi’s first half strike to score an upset 1-0 win over Dempo at the Nehru stadium. Dempo, with the loss lost the chance to increase their lead at the top of the table. They have 40 points from 19 matches, five clear of nearest rivals East Bengal. Pune are sixth with 31 points.

In Kolkata, Shillong Lajong rode on early goals from Matthew Mayora (6th) and John Menyongar (12th) to down Pailan Arrows 2-0 at the Salt Lake stadium.

At the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi, Chirag United Kerala lost to in-form Sporting Clube de Goa 3-0. Eighth-placed Sporting now have 30 points from 19 matches while Chirag Kerala are 12th on 11 points.