Abbas, Jose pilot Air-India to victory

Coach Bimal Ghosh acknowledged that Abbas Ali Rizvi, stepping in for defender Sandeep Kharat, made the difference after the striker levelled scores in the 66th minute and made the second.

The domineering airmen staked their claim for the title with the match-winner by man-of-the-match P J Jose, who struck in the 77th minute.Air-India achieved their first win over relegated Mahindras after three successive draws this season and are happily placed with 24 points from 15 matches at third position behind Mohun Bagan and Salgaocar.

With matches to come against Indian Bank at Chennai,Mohun Bagan at Calcutta and East Bengal at home, Ghosh has reason to feel optimistic.

Air-India have never lost to Indian Bank and although Bagan at home provide a stiff proposition, Ghosh is hopeful of three points against East Bengal at the Cooperage in the League’s concluding scramble.

But Ghosh revealed an apprehension based on his team’s continued prodigality indicated by glaring misses even before the match warmed up.

Commenting on chances that fell to Anthony Fernandes, Khenthang Paite and Jose, Ghosh said he still pines for better finishing by his players.

Ghosh said: “We are playing well but scoring and winning is all important. At such a level, it is rare to enjoy chances in numbers that we have.”Air-India will miss reliable defender Subir Sinha who will sit out the match with two yellow cards — a booking among six registered by referee Gokuldas Nagvenkar (Goa) today.

Air-India kept star player Godfrey Pereira, hampered by a groin injury, out of the starting line-up while Mahindrascoach Dereyk de Sousa rested attacking mainstay Herbert Philip.

Pereira, made an entry after hard-working mid-fielder Dennis George was knocked momentarily unconscious by a collision with Mahindras ‘keeper Gumpe Rime in the 33rd minute.

He did not fail in inducing effervescence in the attack but the misses continued.

Jose, praised profusely by coach Ghosh after the match, amazingly headed backwards when all that Taposh Ghosh’s cross pleaded for was a tap into goal in the 37th minute.

Such glaring misses rarely go unpunished and helped by Ansari’s hiccup against a low long-ranger, Mahindras took the lead.

Ansari failed to hold onto Satish Minz’s boomer and the lurking Khalid Jamil, sporting a bandaged head, shot home.

Mahindras preserved the lead thanks to skipper Ramesh Razak’s goalline clearance from Jose’s attempt in the dying moments but Air-India’s determination after the change of ends made that only academic.

Retaining just three defenders, Air-India’s furious charge created a string ofchances for Fernandes, Jose and Rizvi before the last named made amends almost instantly.

Mahindras failed to get the ball away and Rizvi deflected Taposh Ghosh’s shot over Rime amid a bewildered defence.

Rizvi, vindicated coach Ghosh’s faith in him, with a cross from the left that found Jose.

The striker controlled without much ado before dispatching high into the net to bring Air-India full points.