India: Air India Grounded By Vasco

Vasco now have five points from 11 outings and continue to be at the bottom of the table while Air India would blame themselves for failing to snap up three points against the minnows.

The Goan side could have won the game by a bigger margin had it not been for their striker’s missing the chances.

Coach Elvis Goes played Ravshan Tashabaev and Sherzod Nazarov upfront with Agnelo D’Souza and Abhishek Yadav on the flanks while Air India coach Bimal Ghosh was forced to play Sarath E.C. between the sticks in place of the injured Arup Debnath.

Vasco were the better side in the first session as they had the better exchanges in the midfield. Agnelo D’Souza and Menino Fernandes were always involved in the thick of action. Agnelo started it all with his left footer going wide inside the first five minutes.

Air India had their chance when Soccor Velho’s long ranger was easily collected by Vasco custodian Laxmikant Kuttimani.

At the brink of the first half, Vasco had their best chance but Ravshan Tashabaev couldn’t make the most of it. Menino found Agnelo who quickly sent it for Ravshan in the centre but the Uzbek’s hasty shot didn’t help the Goan side’s cause.

In the second half, Vasco began mounting pressure on Air India who now looked susceptible to the opposition’s attacks. Vasco’s goal came in the 65th minute when Ravshan Tashabaev made amends for his earlier misses and scored after receiving a Menino Fernandes pass.

Air India did try to comeback into the game but the Vasco back line stood strong and didn’t let the Airmen pounce on any chances.