Air India humble East Bengal

East Bengal…0     Air India…2
KOLKATA, MARCH 21
Kailash Patil and N D Opara scored apiece to give Air India a vital 2-0 victory over East Bengal, whose performance now hit rock bottom in the ONGC I-League at Yuba Bharati
Krirangan here on Sunday.
 Medio Kailash Patil opened the account for the airmen in the 32nd minute, capitalising on a cross from N D Opara and the foreigner himself sealed the match from his powerful right footer 14 minutes from end.
The win consolidated Mumbai outfit turnaround in the second leg of the 14-team Indian League and they have bagged 21 points at the end of 17th round and equalled in standing with East Bengal, whose abysmal performance continued to haunt them.
Air India dominated the entire proceedings and deserved the win against a side having several India internationals.
Barring India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who is nursing a hamstring injury, East Bengal had a full side with three foreigners- Oga Okrapa, Abel Hammond and Yusif Yukubu.
But the grit showed by the airmen was encouraging in all fronts to take sweet revenge first leg 0-1 loss to East Bengal.
East Bengal had a goal scoring opportunity in the first four mintues but Yukubu’s header from Renedy Singh did not bother airmen goalie Arnab Das Sharma.
Air India’s Kailash Patil broke the wall 13 minutes from break when he slotted home beating Abhra Mondal.
Desperate for an equaliser East Bengal made some weak attempts and before any damage was done, N D Opara sealed their win and pocketed full three points in the 76th minute.
Earlier Yukubu had an opportunity but failed to hit target in the 58th mintue when he found only the goalie as the last obstruction.
Defender Peter Odafe of Air India was ajudged the man-of-the match.