Sub Subair spells AI despair

PUNE: Substitute striker Subair Muritala Ali's goal in the 86th minute saw Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) beat Air India 2-1 in the I-League football tournament at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge-Balewadi, here on Sunday.
With this win, ONGC have 27 points from 20 matches while Air India have 18 from 18. Yusa was adjudged declared man of the match.
Air India had the edge over ONGC in this 17th round match which was earlier scheduled to be held in January. The airmen drew first blood in the 40th minute when Nigerian striker Ezeh Henry made no mistake with his header after getting a cross from countryman E O Junior.
However, their joy was shortlived. In the injury time of the first half itself, ONGC got the equaliser when Yusa converted a penalty. Yusa was brought down by Pratik Choudhary in the box and referee Naveen Sundi was spot on.
After the changeover, ONGC pressed further and got the all-important goal in the 86th minute. The goalkeeper made a save but Ali capitalized on the rebound.