Late double in the first half sees Air India sink KSA

by Kaushal Shukla December 19, 2015

Champions Air India shrugged off a shaky start to overcome Karnataka Sporting Association (KSA) 2-0 in an Elite Division game of the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) held at Cooperage on Saturday evening. Two goals, late in the first half from Pramod Pandey and Sagar Chile were enough for Godfrey Pereira’s men to cement their place at the top of the Elite Division table.

KSA were without Nigerian striker Arihi Uchela who had scored a hat-trick for Suresh Mendon’s men in their last outing, but KSA didn’t seem to miss him in the early parts of the game wherein they got on top of Air India. KSA’s new import Michael Idewele who started in place of Uchela arrived on time to strike a loose ball at the Air India goal, but Air India goalkeeper got down in time to deny KSA a third minute lead.

KSA continued to be sharper of the two sides in the first quarter of an hour and got in promising positions only for their attacks to fizzle out at the crucial moment. Champions Air India eventually found their feet in the game and began to see more of the ball just before the half hour mark. Air India stepped up the pressure as Aaron D’Costa began to give KSA plenty of problems down Air India’s right side as he often got beyond the KSA left back to fire in crosses, which KSA dealt with.

Just as it seemed KSA had weathered the storm and would go into the interval on level terms, Air India made the breakthrough from a corner kick which was met by a clever run from Pramod Pandey ashis flicked header sailed into the top corner in the 40th minute. Three minutes later, Air India once again opened up KSA and it was the brilliance of Aaron D’Costa on the right flank which saw him ease past the KSA defender to deliver a delicious cross for Sagar Chile who guided his header past the helpless Kishen Sulegai in the KSA goal.

Air India’s late surge in the first saw them take up a commanding position at half time as all of KSA’s hardwork went in vain.

Air India were dominant on the ball in the second half as well, but KSA were finding great joy on the counter-attack. A sweeping KSA move within the first ten minutes of the second half, saw KSA come agonizingly close to pulling a goal back, but the final effort went inches wide of the left hand side post.

More chances fell KSA’s way, in the second half, but indecision in the opponent box cost Suresh Mendon’s side a way back into the game where opportunities were far and few for his side. At the other end, Air India’s Subhash Chakraborty struck a fine volley against the crossbar in the 75th minute.

Air India had chances to further increase their lead when Aaron D’Costa was played in on goal five minutes from time, but the winger held on to the ball for too long allowing Kishen Sulegai to narrow his angle and make the save.

However Air India picked up yet another victory to cement their place at the top of the MDFA Elite Division table. KSA would probably be kicking themselves for failing to seize their moments, which might have changed the result in their favor.