United SC beat Air India 2-1 in Durand Cup

United SC defeated Air India 2-1 in a crucial second round Pool B match to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the 127th Durand Cup football tournament at the Raia Sports Complex here Friday.

United SC were beaten in their opening match of their group 2-3 by Sporting Clube de Goa.

It was Air India who got off the blocks faster pulling ahead in the third minute through Nayak but from thereon it was all United SC.

Their offensive players kept the Air Indian defence under pressure and deservedly went level in the 12th minute by a penalty from which Babun Das scored.

United SC preferred to play small passes and kept the ball on the ground, patiently trying to build up meaningful attacks while Air India were more intent on clearing their lines and hitting long aerial balls for their strikers to run at.

That didn't help them as United SC punished them for their unimaginative play, Sujay Oraon pulling United SC ahead with a smart finish in the 44th minute, curling a free-kick into the back of the net.

The goal was enough to secure three points for United with Sujay moving to the top of the scorers' list with two goals from as many matches.