Air India, Pax of Nagoa draw 2-2

Air India, Mumbai, and Pax of Nagoa, Goa, played out a 2-2 draw in their last league match in the Second Division National Football League (final phase) in Pondicherry on Tuesday evening.

Following the draw, Air India finished with 11 points and settled for third place. The result meant they will figure in the final phase of the Second Division next year.

Dempo Sports Club, Goa, and Indian Bank, Chennai, have already qualified for the First Division in the next edition of the National Football League.

In a match dominated mostly by the Goan team, Air India shot into the lead in the ninth minute when Rizwan found the net, connecting a centre from Stephen Dias. Ameechi levelled the score for Pax, tapping the ball home following a free-kick.

Air India again shot into the lead in the 36th minute when Rizwan survived an offside trap and found the net.

In the second session, Pax had to struggle hard for the equaliser and their wayward shooting made things worse for them. In the 77th minute, Moosa was shown the red card by referee Bhaskar for a dangerous tackle, thus reducing the Goan team to 10 men.

The Goans continued to maintain pressure and with two minutes for the long whistle, substitute Francis Afonso found the target, capitalising on a defensive lapse. Afonso, who replaced Savio Pereira, lobbed the ball over custodian Partha Das.

Pax ended their engagement with nine points.

Second Division National Football League 2001-2002 - the complete coverage