Noel Wilson’s good work went in vain

New Delhi: Mohammedan Sporting’s Durand Cup campaign kicked off on a disastrous note on Thursday as they went down 1-2 to Air India in group A pre-quarter-final league action. It virtually ended the Calcutta outfit’s hope of making the last eight.

Even a win on Friday, against Assam Rifles, won’t be enough for Mohammedan Sporting as Air India need only a draw against the same opposition to qualify for the quarter-final league from the three-team group.

The toppers will join Mahindra United, Mohun Bagan and Sporting Clube de Goa in group I of the quarter final league.

Mohammedan coach Subhas Bhowmick was naturally a disappointed man. Even without a foreign player, Mohammedan Sporting dished out attacking football, but poor defensive work cost them.

“Defensive lapses let us down,” said Bhowmick. “We played good football, yet had to lose. Absence of foreign players made a lot of difference.”

Mohammedan Sporting went one-up in the fourth minute. Bijen Singh received the ball on the right of the Air India box and quickly back-passed for Noel Wilson. The long-haired midfielder, who had a good day in office, fired a right-footer into the net.

Air India regrouped well and raided the rival area a couple of times. Mohammedan Sporting, too, had a chance, but Harbinder Singh faltered at the goalmouth.

In the 39th minute, Air India’s Noel Fernandes found the equaliser with a little help from the opposition. There was ample time for the Mohammedan Sporting defenders to clear the long throw from Uttam Singh when it dropped inside the box, yet they allowed Fernandes to score with a bicycle kick.

Ultimately, it was Mohammedan Sporting who conceded yet another avoidable goal. No doubt, Nigerian Bashiru Abbas’ fine spot jump produced a strong header in the 82nd minute, but the Mohammedan Sporting defence had left him unmarked when the cross from Zaheer Abbas floated into the box.

TEAMS

Air India: Raju Ekka; Benoy Kuruvilla, Vijith Shetty, Uttam Singh, Samson Singh; Javed Ansari (Thomte, 84), Paresh Shivalkar, Noel Fernandes (Zaheer Abbas, 71), Bashiru Abbas; Martin, Joseph

Mohammedan Sporting: Sk Nasibul; Madhab Das, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Feroze; Noel Wilson, Surojit Roy, Sunil Kumar, Sudesh, Asim Das; Bijen Singh (Raman Vijayan, 62), Harbinder Singh (Jamir Ali, 46)

Referee: A. Arjunan

JCT beat TFA

In group B, JCT Mills defeated TFA 2-0. Praveen Kumar and Edeh Chidi struck in the second half.