The Hindu : Sport / Football : AI flies high again

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AI flies high again

Principal Correspondent

KANNUR: Air India sprung a surprise for the second night in a row. The Mumbai team, after shocking Instituto Buenos Aires de Futbol, Argentina, 24 hours ago, held the formidable Bayelsa United, Nigeria, to a 1-1 draw in the second E.K. Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup football tournament at the Municipal Jawahar Stadium here on Wednesday and brightened its chances of a semifinal berth from Group ‘B’.

Bayelsa is already through to the last four, with seven points from its three games. Air India’s Nigerian striker Bashiru M. Abass scored the equaliser after Bayelsa had taken the lead through E. Tobi Gariga.

Keen contest

It was a keenly-contested match in front of another decent crowd. And it was really a creditable effort by Air India against its talented Nigerian rival, which hasn’t been able to reproduce the kind of form it displayed in its opening game against the Argentines.

Air India could have taken the lead in the 29th minute but Bashiru couldn’t make use of an excellent cross from Uttam Singh.

Then, in the 35th minute, the Nigerians drew first blood when Gariga headed home a short cross from Ebibo Fekeie. The goal came off a quick move down the right initiated by Inemo Wokoro.

Air India restored parity in the 45th minute, with Bashiru, named ‘man of the match’, coming up with a terrific header off a throw-in taken by Uttam.

After the interval, both teams had several chances to score but neither did.

On Thursday, Instituto takes on North Imphal Sporting Association.

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