Air India win but are relegated

S Ayyappa Swamy

Air-India got one part of the script right on Monday, but their joy of beating Vasco, Goa, 2-1 in their final National Football League match was shortlived, as Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills, Phagwara, played spoilsports in Ludhiana.

JCT, the inaugural league winners who enjoyed a splendid second leg, upset Salgaocar 2-0 to take full points and finish a rung higher than the airmen.

If Air-India were in despair, Vasco were rejoicing despite the loss, as Salgaocar's defeat meant that they finished fifth and above their state mates.

Air-India finished 11th, with 21 points, while Vasco's 27 points saw them finish behind East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Churchill Brothers and FC Kochin, in that order.

The fifth place finish was certainly a splendid showing by Vasco, in only their first year in the league, and that too under a coach (Derrick Pereira) on loan from Salgaocar.

Khenthang Paite gave the airmen the lead, at the Cooperage, with deflected header in the 15th minute. But it was shortlived as Vishant Pednekar equalised three minutes later.

The match came alive in the second half as Air-India pitched tent in the rival half. A couple of chances went abegging as substitute Godfred Pereira shrugged off two defenders and chipped over goalkeeper Ramos, only to see the ball come off the rebound. Then Anthony Fernandes failed from close.

Folks at the Cooperage got off the benches knowing the verdict when Ratan Singh latched on to a rebound off Ramos and slammed home. Went the final whistle and there were some moments of rejoicing by the airmen for having gained three points. But when news about JCT's victory over Salgaocar came through from the north, the downcast Air-India team slowly trudged their way to the dressing room, realising the huge task they have on hand to get back into the NFL in the 2002-2003 season. They know how difficult will be as they had just made their way up from the qualifiers along with Vasco.

Air-India played their hearts out, especially goalkeeper Israt Kamal, Bungo Singh, Arun Malhotra, Khenthang Paite, Anthony Fernandes and Khenthang Paite, who is on loan from Calcutta Revenue.

Kamal did a good job under the bar, bringing off three stupendous saves -- two in the first half, to thwart Edson Wanderley and Liston Fernandes, and one off Peter Rodrigues in the second.

Air-India played a superb pressing game in the second half. Though Vasco were on the backfoot they hardly made a mistake while defending. Goalkeeper Ramos, who was continuously being tested by long punted balls, denied Air-India even the slightest of chances, until that last minute, nay a few seconds, before the long whistle.