Bagan, Air India gain full points

Barasat (West Bengal), Dec 12 (IANS) Riding on a Soccer Velho strike, Air India downed Vasco Sports Club 1-0 while Jose Barreto struck a brace to fashion Mohun Bagan's 2-1 win over Oil India in the Federation Cup group D matches here Friday.

Velho got the goal with a neat placement 86 minutes into the match when an Uttam Singh corner was headed by midfielder Michael Tayo to him.

The Nigerian Tayo, who put up a spirited display in the second half, missed a gilt-edged opportunity in the 48th minute when his volley from inside the box came off the bar, and he shot the rebound also wide.

In the other match at the same venue - Vidyasagar Krirangan - Barreto put his side ahead as early as the ninth minute when he headed in a Lalkamal Bhowmick centre, after Oil India custodian Pradip Dutta failed to clutch on to a a Marcos Pereira freekick.

Bhaichung seized the ball and released it to Lalkamal who addressed the centre.

But the Assam outfit drew level in the 36th minute as in-form striker Durga Bora's lob beat Mohun Bagan custodian Sangram Mukherjee all ends up.

Desperate to seize the lead, Bagan tried to go on the offensive, but the young Oil India players gave a spirited display.

Finally, the Mohun Bagan winner came off a penalty that was given when Bhutia's side volley was handled by Oil India defender Jyotish Basumatary. Barreto made no mistake in converting the easiest of set pieces.