Air India, JCT sail into quarter-finals in Durand Cup

New Delhi, Nov 18 (UNI) Air India pumped in five goals in the second session to thrash Assam Rifles 5-2 and book their quarter-final berth in the 119th Osian's Durand Cup football tournament here today.

The Mumbai team trailed 0-1 at the breather but made a remarkable comeback after resumption and stamped their superiority to register their second successive win in the Group 'A' pre-quarterfinal league.

For the winners, Vijith Setty (46th, 72nd minutes), Binoy Kuruvilla (55th), Bashir Abbas (58th) and Paresh Shivalkar (92nd) scored while Bulu Jigdong scored both the goals for Assam Rifles in the 43rd and 49th minutes.

Air India now joins NFL champions Mahindra United, Mohun Bagan and Sporting Club De Goa in Group I and will play Mahindra in the first quarter-final match tomorrow.

Earlier in the Group 'B' pre-quaterfinal match, JCT, Phagwara, strucked thrice in the second half to blank Border Security Force (BSF) and book a quarter-final berth.

Adebayo Tokunbo (46th), Shivraj Singh (68th) and Renedy Singh (81st) scored for the Punjab team.

JCT now joins East Bengal, Dempo and Army XI in Group II and will play Army XI on Monday in their first quarter-final match.

Assam Rifles took a surprise lead in the 43rd minute following a free kick after striker Akum Ao was brought down by Air India defender Joseph. Dancing Mukhim essayed a fine cross in the danger area from the right and a perfectly placed Jigdong fired a rasping right footer, after being headed down by a rival defender, which crashed into the net.

Vijith Setty equalised barely a minute after resumption connecting a pass from Samson Singh. But three minutes later, the Riflesmen took the lead again with Jigdong scoring a brilliant goal outsmarting Air India defender Joseph following a long clearnce from Rifle's half.

Air India continued the pressure and they were gifted the equaliser in the 55th minute by rival goalkeeper Manichandra Singh who substituted Satbinder Singh after the regular goalie injured his right shoulder in a collision in the first half.

Manichandra failed to hold on a harlmess high cross by substitute Benoy Kuruvilla from right flank and deflected the ball into the net to make it 2-2.

From then onwards, it was Air Indai all the way, scoring almost at will. Bashir Abbas put the Airmen in the lead for the first time in the 58th minute firing home a Uttam Singh aerial pass from the left after the ball was being headed down by Kuruvilla.

Shetty doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, this time heading home a pass from Samson who in turn was fed by by Shivalkar from left.

Shivalkar then rounded off the tally from a solo effort in the injury time (92nd minute). After collecting the ball from near the centre line, he got the better of every defender who confronted him and slammed home with goalkeeper remaining a mute spectator.

The first half of the JCT-BSF match was evenly contested and there was nothing to choose between them. But, the millmen found their groove in the second session and walked away with clean slate with substitute Shivraj Singh firing a brillaint 25-yarder in the 68th minute after Adebayo Tokunbo them ahead within one minute after the breather.

Another second half substitute Renedy Singh made it 3-0 from a thirty-yard long ranger in the 81st minute with the ball crashing into the net after being deflected from BSF goalkeeper Machinder Singh.

BSF had to pay dearly for the absence of regular goalkeeper Kamleshwar Singh who was injured in their first match against TFA.

JCT will now play holders Army XI in the quarter-finals on Monday.

Tomorrow matches: Mahindra United VS Air India 1300 hrs Mohun Bagan VS Sporting Clube De Goa 15:00 hrs UNI PDS DH HS1849