Bangalore giants Hindustan Aeronautics defeated Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 to garner full points from their fifth round National Football League match in Bangalore on Sunday.
Xavier Vijayakumar scored in the 44th minute and Satish Kumar (82nd minute) for the HAL while the Goan club reduced the margin in the 70th minute through a penalty kick, converted by Nigerian Macpherlin Dudu Omaghbemi at the Bangalore football stadium.
HAL, who dominated most of the first half, drew the first blood as Xavier flummoxed a defender and sidestepped rival custodian Felix D'Souza after getting a through pass from Murali.
In the second half, the Goan team levelled the score through a penalty, after Pawan Kumar fouled substitute Dudu and referee Shaji Kurien rightly pointed to the spot.
Dudu converted for his fourth goal in five matches, the highest in the league so far. He had come in for Ernest Jeremiah in the 49th minute.
Twelve minutes later Xavier was again instrumental in taking HAL ahead as he crossed to substitute Satish Kumar from the left. Satish Kumar had come off the bench in the 76th minute replacing Srikanth.
This victory put HAL ahead of Mohun Bagan and Sporting Clube de Goa, who both have four points from five matches.
HAL, who are now in eighth position with a tally of five points from as many matches, will next play another Goan club, Churchill Brothers, in Bangalore on February 22.
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