Air-India overwhelming

MUMBAI, July 11: Air-India and Bengal Mumbai Football Club BMFC, two of the many contenders for the WIFA Gulf Oil Super Division title,...

MUMBAI, July 11: Air-India and Bengal Mumbai Football Club BMFC, two of the many contenders for the WIFA Gulf Oil Super Division title, began their campaign in contrasting styles at Cooperage today.

Air-India were solid in disposing off the challenge of Central Bank, but it required an exuberant goal from Uday Konar for defending champions, BMFC, to wriggle out of an embarrasing situation and escape to a victory.

Air-India scored two goals either side of half-time. Their display was so overwhelming that Central Bank CBI had just one shot at the goal throughout the match.

Among Air-India8217;s new recruits is Bungo Singh, who is destined to move to greener pastures quickly after the season ends. Thanks to his commanding presence in the midfield and an ice-cool temperament, Air-India did not look flustered even for a moment today.

The performance also gave Air-India coach, Bimal Ghosh, the option of playing two brilliant midfielders in their crucial matches 8212; Bungo and Godfrey Pereira.

Havingattained a three-goal cushion, Air-India played within themselves, giving substitutes Taposh Ghosh, Anthony Fernandes and Herbert Philips some match practice.

Surinder Pal scored the first two goals. The first was regulation, the second brilliant. Bungo cut a diagonal pass from the centre to Khalid Jamil at the top of the box. Jamil switched it on to Rolongpong Kabui on the left. Kabui8217;s cross was neatly pushed in by Surinder Pal.

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Surjit Tigga headed a cross from left-back Subir Sinha to make it 3-0. The fourth came off a deflection by Central Bank substitute Greville Crasto, who tried to intercept Taposh Ghosh8217;s cross.

KONAR8217;S BEAUTY: In the first match, BMFC gave too much space in the midfield to debutantes Fr Agnel. That helped Fr Agnel create some pressure on BMFC and score the equaliser in the 55th minute.

Ean Antao8217;s cross found a deflection and rolled to Eusebio Mascarenhas, who scored. Fr Agnel had conceded a 20th-minute goal through left-back Mohd Nazir who volleyed a dipping left-foot shotto beat Agnel goalkeeper Rupesh Kamath.

Konar8217;s beautiful goal came when BMFC had closed the gaps in the midfield and were just thrusting forward. Konar, his back to the Agnel goal, chased a ball inside the area on the left. When he got to it, he half-turned and a flick with his left foot found just the right angle to creep in.