Air India, BSF in Durand quarterfinal

New Delhi:

It was a goal harvest at the Durand Cup on Sunday as Air India and JCT, Phagwara, booked their spots in the quarterfinal league of the third oldest football tournament in the world. The airmen from Mumbai came from behind twice to pip Assam Rifles 5-2, while JCT took care of their state rivals Border Security Force 3-0 at the Ambedkar Stadium. Air India join the group of defending National Football League and Federation Cup champions Mahindra United, Mohun Bagan and Sporting Clube-de-Goa. Their victory also ended the hopes of Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting. Air India found the target through Vijith Shetty (47th, 72nd), Benoy Kuruvilla (55th), Bashiru Abbas (58th) and Paresh Shivalkar (92nd). Bulu Jigdung scored both the goals for Assam Rifles in the 43rd and 49th minutes. JCT is up against East Bengal, Dempo Sports Club, Goa, and defending champions Army XI in the quarterfinal league. They found the mark through Nigerian Adebayo Tokunbo (46th), Shivraj Singh (68th) and Renedy Singh (81st). Assam Rifles started brightly and were the better team in the first period. Abel Sema, Ajit Singh and Johnny Kharluki were a constant threat to the Air India defence. They had a confident claim for a penalty turned down by referee S B Saha when M Kamei was tackled inside the box by Air India's Joseph. They took a deserved lead just before half-time when a free-kick from Akum Ao came off the wall to Dancing Mukhim, who put it into the danger area. After an attempted clearance, the lose ball was powerfully slotted home by Jigdung. (PTI)