September 1: Defending champions Air-India swelled their WIFA Super Division League points kitty today after registering a convincing victory over Central Bank of India (CBI) here at the Cooperage.In another Super Division match, substitute ME Satish's last minute strike a saw Bank of India (BoI) derail Central Railway (1-0).
With today's victory, Air-India are sitting pretty at the second spot havign logged 18 points from 9 matches. Bengal Mumbai Football Club (BMFC) head the standings with 22 from 10 matches.
Air-India who dominated the proceedings shot into an early lead, thanks to a bad collection by CBI goalkeeper Jerome Ghanekar. Mid-fielder Khambiton Singh's goal-ward bound aerial long-ranger found Ghanekar making a mess of it. Opportunistic striker Debdas Sen, who migrated from Eastern Railway this season, made full use of the chance at his feet to lob the ball into the net.
Anthony Fernandes sealed victory for A-I in the 50th minute when he outpaced the Bank defenders and thumped into thenet from close.
The Central Railway-BoI encounter was an evenly contested affair. Though Railway dominated the first quarter of the match, BoI settled down before creating openings.
The bankmen's endeavour paid dividends in the last minute when Satish shocked the railwaymen when he nodded in a Navin Kotian's cross. The opposition were found flatfooted as they waited for off-side trap.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.