After surviving a first-half scare, promoted side Air-India scored twice through Zabeer Abbas and Bashiru Abaass to down defending champions Dempo 2-0 in a 1Oth ONGC National football league match at the Nehru Stadium, in Fatorda, Goa, on Saturday.
Another Goa team was at the receiving end on Saturday, as former champions Salgaocar went down to promoted Mohammedan Sporting 0-1 at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata later in the day.
Dempo, who suffered their second succesive defeat have two points from four matches, while Air-India, who scored their first win, have three from three matches.
Referee Pradeep Kumar showed yellow cards to Dempo's Roberto Silva Nascimento Silveria and Air-India's Narendra Meetai.
Air India played a clever game, packing the defense, and after surviving first-half scare, took the lead in the 62nd minutes.
Sheer Abbas, picking the ball from the centre line, sprinted down the right and from 30-yards essayed a right footer that beat 'keeper Satish Kumar.
Air-India looked dangerous in their counter and punched a hole in Dempo's defense as Bashiru Abbas relayed a forward pass to Paresh Shivalkar; the latter's shot was blocked by diving keeper Kumar, but the deflection fell on the path of Bashiru Abass, who shot into an empty net.
Dempo, who had more ball possession, have themselves to blame as they wasted four scoring chances in the first half which they dominated.
Joaquim had the early chances to put Dempo in the lead but failed to score an easy chance as he miscued his shot infront of an open goal after Ranty Martins had fed him with a lofted pass over the defence.
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