MUMBAI, SEPT 26: Air-India have regained the Gulf Oil WIFA Super Division title. A goalless draw with Mahindras sufficed the champions of 1994, '96 and '97. They had lost the title last year in the final league match, which was won by Bengal Mumbai FC.Air-India needed a draw today and Mahindras a win. Air-India achieved their objective and had much to boast about the domination in today's clash.With the league being decided by this final match, there was plenty of excitement heightened by the presence of the musical band drumming for their respective teams. But on the pitch, it was a tense battle.The only time that Mahindras came close to scoring was mid-way thorugh the second session. However, the bar denied them a goal as Manjit Singh lobbed over advancing Air-India goalkeeper Partha Das.Air-India quickly brought in reinforcements in their defence and held on stoutly for the remaining minutes to reclaim the title.Despite the defensive nature of the game, Air-India had their chances. Early onleft-winger Ratan Singh had two shots at the goal then central midfielder Bungo Singh was set up by Khalid Jamil but Bungo's shot was blocked by a defender.Mahindras then did not allow many breaks for Air-India. ``I had told my players to hold on in the first half and go all out in the second,'' said SS Hakim, the Mahindra coach.They came out with a purpose but the Air-India defence held on though at times they looked panicky. Mahindras central defender Bernard nearly broke through with a lobbed pass but Osborne D'Souza cleared the ball away with two strikers lurking nearby. ``We did not have too much of these lobbed passes. Maybe, we could have made a difference,'' explained Hakim.When the final whistle went, the Air-India players celebrated while Mahindra's slumped to the ground. Air-India coach Bimal Ghosh looked a relieved man. ``We had the match under control. Only in the last 10 minutes did we face some pressure. But that was expected,'' he said.Air-India were richer by Rs 30,000. Mahindrasgot Rs 23,000 and BMFC Rs 17,000 for finishing third.In the relegation league match, Central Railway defeated Union Bank 2-1. Pradeep Saha and Arshad Ansari were the scorers for Railways while Vijay Thapa scored for UBI.
