Defender Dhanachandra Singh scored the solitary goal for Air India in an Elite division MDFA League match against their I-League opponents ONGC, at Cooperage ground, on Tuesday.
It was a lacklustre encounter between two of the strongest sides in the city as they canceled each other out for nearly the entire duration of the game.
The first chance fell to Air India in the second minute as Okorgor Praise made a run into the box, but could not finish as the ONGC goalie, Prosenjit Ghosh, bravely pounced upon the ball.
ONGC had their first good chance in the 15th minute as the Air India keeper Arup Debnata advanced out of his box to clear the ball and lost it to the opponents. Fortunately for Air India, the attempted B Babatunde’s shot from a distance was wide off the mark.
ONGC went close to scoring nine minutes after the break when Kailash Patil’s shot hit the crossbar. The best attempt for ONGC in the game was a 25-yard belter by Babatunde in the 60th minute, which brought out an equally spectacular diving save by Debnata.
The Air India keeper showed great propensity to charge out of his box and he did so in the 76th minute but ended up handling the ball and conceding a free kick from a dangerous position. Parwinder Singh who had just come on managed to beat the wall but not Debnata.
The game seemed to be ambling towards a goalless draw, but five minutes from full time Dhanachandra Singh headed Uttam Kumar Singh’s long throw in, to beat Ghosh.
The victory was crucial for Air India, as the league leaders and the third I-League team from Mumbai, Mumbai FC, drew their game against PIFA Colaba, bringing an end their five match winning run.
