MUMBAI, APRIL 12: Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL, Bangalore) and Vasco (Goa) started on a promising note today as both the teams scored easy victories over their opponents in the Second Division National Football League matches at the Cooperage.HAL got past Indian Air Force, Delhi (IAF) 2-1 while Louis Nickson scored the solitary goal for Vasco against Rayalsima Tigers of Hyderabad.Played in the hot and humid weather, HAL took 21 minutes to settle but scored in the very first move. Withdrawn forward Mani did the spadework on the left flank before creating an opening for junior international Murali. The latter placed his left footer in the right corner of IAF goal to put his team ahead.Hard-working IAF striker Gossain drew the parity with a fine volley in the 27th minute. He slotted home when A Hussain' free-kick got deflected off a HAL defender. But with in a minute, HAL regained the lead in the match. It was Mani, who scored for HAL this occasion. He capitalised on a IAF deep defender's mistakeand dispatched his right footer again to the right of diving IAF 'keeper BS Negi.Infact, IAF should have managed an equaliser just before the half-time, when B Das, acrobatically, took a volley which missed the target by inches.In the second match, the team from Hyderabad put a good show to contain Vasco strikers from scoring to many goals.In the 42nd minute, Nickson headed home a low cross from Tony Okafor. After the goal, Vasco strikers had many opportunities but they failed to convert. For Tigers, 'keeper Giasuddin threatened most of the Vasco moves. He showed a lot of promise, especially in air while Vasco 'keeper Chandrakant Naik was hardly tested by Rayalsima strikers.
