New Delhi: Air India have made a winning start to their Federation Cup campaign as they beat Vasco SC 1-0 and avenged their defeat to the Goan side; whom they had earlier lost to in their last competitive game by the same scoreline.
The Mumbai club only just about managed to win thanks to a Soccor Velho strike just two minutes from time.
It was a first half which seemed too long for the viewer as neither team could put together any real moves. Except for the handball appeal by Air India and the free-kick taken by Sherzod Nazarov there wasn’t much worthwhile action. Ravinder Singh’s cross from the left hit the crossbar and feel for Samson Singh just beyond the far post.
The Air India striker’s shot hit the hand of Vincent Pires and but the linesman wasn’t interested which left the Mumbai club bemused.The Airmen were conceding needless free-kicks in key areas especially Gouranga Biswas who twice brought down Sherzod Nazarov in the space of six minutes.
Nazarov’s effort saw Air India custodian Arup Debnath dive to his left to punch the ball out. Vasco players couldn’t make the most of the rebound and the chance went away begging.
The trio of Michael Tayo, Surojit Roy and Gaoranga Biswas couldn’t come up with anything creative.
Vasco’s Nazarov, Agnelo D’Souza and Ravshan Tashabaev were involved in some slick passing in passing moments but their moves were being well intercepted.
Six minutes were added at the end of the first session as Vasco custodian Laxmikant Kuttymani had to be treated following his clash with a couple of Air India players off a throw-in.
The second session was in stark contrast to the first as both teams looked to attack from the onset.
The best move came in the 49th minute when Vijith Shetty released the ball to Michael Tayo’s whose shot came off the crossbar. Soccor Velho laid it again for Tayo but the Nigerian medio sent it over the bar under pressure from Covan Lawrence.
The very next minute, Michael Tayo and Soccor Velho combined again as the former sent a through ball with Vincent Pires playing the latter onside. Soccor placed it wide from six yards out.
At the other end, a quick counterattack saw Menino Fernandes chested and had a shy at the goal from inside the box which went straight into the hands of Arup Debnath.
Surojit Roy, who had a disappointing first session as most Air India players, came back to life and his cross for Samson Singh was too much for the Air India number eight. Soccor Velho pulled the ball back but an alert Vincent Pires conceded a corner.
An Uttam Singh throw-in from the left was headed over by Michael Tayo in the 56th minute.
Agnelo D’Souza did find himself in acres of space on the right for Vasco but instead of crossing the ball, the youngster decided to take on Ravinder Singh and produced no result in the end.
Air India coach Bimal Ghosh threw in Subhash Singh and Kailash Patil and made his intentions to find a winner known.
The Vasco citadel finally collapsed off an Uttam Singh flag-kick just two minutes from the final whistle with both – Tayo and Soccor having a hand as well.
Tayo headed the ball towards Soccor whose shot on the turn found the back of the net.
There were a few nervy moments for Air India as goalkeeper Arup Debnath picked up a booking for handling the ball outside the area. Sherzod Nazarov chipped the ball but was cleared for a corner by Chukuwama Udofia.
Goalscorer Air India: Soccor Velho (88th min)
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