Air India beat ASEB; SBT down BSF

Air India, Mumbai, scored their third victory, beating Assam State Electricity Board 3-1 in Group A, in the Second Division National Football League, at the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

The victory improved Air India's chances of a berth in the Super League stage.

In the second match of the day, State Bank of Travancore beat Border Security Force, Jallandhar, 2-0 to keep alive their hopes of qualifying from Group A.

The airmen went ahead by way of a self-goal by ASEB's medio Kishore Kumar Brahama in the 15th minute.

But within two minutes ASEB restored parity when medio Kishore Das's cross was neatly netted by striker Sanjeeva Rongpi.

In the second-half, the game was mostly confined to the midfield. In the 69th minute substitute Syed Altafuddin Ahmed, who came in place of Mohammed Rizwan, gave AIr India the lead again with a long ranger from the right corner.

Substitute Narendra Mettei then put the issue beyond doubt in the 88th minute.

Air India now have 10 points from four matches. They will meet State Bank of Travancore in their last match on Saturday.

ASEB have lost all the four matches they played.

SBT put up an impressive show and scored once in each half. The bankmen were awarded a free-kick in the 22nd minute when an advancing Asif Saheer was fouled by defender Raghvir Singh. Saheer took the kick and passed to medio Ajayan, who made no mistake.

In the 61st minute, Abdul Hakkim scored the second goal.