An improved defensive performance notwithstanding, HASC remained in search of its first points at home after falling to a 1-0 defeat against Churchill Brothers here on Sunday.
Gabonese striker Henry Antchouet headed in Steven Dias's free-kick early in the second half to tilt the balance of a hitherto even game in the visitor's favour. Captain Femi Adeola turned in another commanding performance in the centre of defence but HASC's problems lay at the other end of the pitch, where the team was again let down by the lack of an efficient finisher in front of goal.
The host started in an altered formation, James Singh the only defensive midfielder behind a three-man midfield, with R.C. Prakash positioned deeper behind striker Jagaba Hamza. The game's first clear chance fell to Hamza on a corner on the half-hour mark, but the Nigerian tamely headed wide. Biju Kumar had another opportunity minutes later but fired over the bar.
Good move
Manager M. Muralidharan sent on centre-half Liliyan Kenneth for Ajit Kumar, enabling James to move ahead into the latter's position. The move appeared to have paid off when Vinod Kumar broke down the right and found James in the box, but the 26-year-old dragged his shot wide of the far post.
At the other end, Churchill picked up a couple of bookings, but save for Zakeer Mundampara's strike from the edge of the area, HASC goalkeeper P. Pramod was not excessively troubled. After the break, though, the visitor emerged with greater intent and went ahead inside three minutes.
A foul on Opara earned the Goan side a free-kick 40 yards out on the right flank, and Dias's curling delivery was met by Antchouet. Hamza thought he had equalized nine minutes later but was ruled offside. Xavier Vijayakumar, once the heartbeat of the HASC team, was introduced to thunderous applause as his side continued to make inroads.
The airmen appeared increasingly disjointed in attack; summer signing Aleksandar Sujdovic was thrown on with 12 minutes left but had no impact on the scoreline.
Churchill moved up into second with the result, while HASC continued to linger in the relegation places.
