Air-India weathered a stormy take-off and much in flight turbulence before they effected a safe landing which translated into a 2-1 victory over wooden spooners Salgaocar in a 11th round I-League match at the Cooperage on Monday.
The Goan club took the lead through their consistent goal getter Felix Chimaokwu who netted his sixth goal of the championship in the 24th minute.
The locals restored parity through skipper Paresh Shivalkar in the 29th minute after Salgaocar custodian Markus Basumatari had blocked two consecutive shies at the target.
Samson Singh scored the match winner a minute before lemon time, bulging the net with a sweetly timed volley off a Napoleon Singh flag kick.
Their second win helps Air-India move up to eighth spot with 11 points, ahead of East Bengal, who lost yet again on Monday.
The former NFL champions, despite having new recruit Subhas Bhowmick on the bench as technical director, crashed to their sixth defeat. Savio Medeira's squad have only five points from as many draws and are still searching for their first victory. How have the mighty fallen -- and this applies to the glamour red & gold brigade as well.
Air-India played poor, negative football on Monday but coach Bimal Ghosh made it clear that he was happy with the three points rather than dishing out a pretty game.
The locals, who strengthened their rearguard to defend their lead, were however lucky to escape to victory as Salgaocar mounted raid after raid in the second session. It was only the heroics of third choice goalkeeper Arnab Das Sarma, voted man of the match, which saved them the day.
Sarma was beaten however when Fabio Dos Passon dribbled past him in the 55th minute but the Brazilian medio flicked the ball onto the upright with the entire goal at his mercy.
Sarma however blotted his copybook by getting booked by referee PK Bose (Madhya Pradesh) for time wasting.
Chimaokwu too was cautioned for a cynical foul on Air-India defender Nirmal Chhetri with five minutes to go for the final whistle as overeager Salgaocar hunted feverishly for the equaliser.
Salgoacar head home to take on high flying Churchill Brothers in a local derby on Jan 19 while Air-India meet Sporting Clube de Goa on home turf a day later.
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