SBT down Air India

State Bank of Travancore beat Air-India 2-1 and kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation in the National Football league.

The bankmen thus avenged their defeat to Air-India in the away match, in Bombay, which they lost 1-6.

For SBT, who led 1-0 at half-time, Asif Saheer (33rd minute) and V P Shaji (79th) were the scorers while captain Ratan Singh came up with the lone goal for Air India in the 59th minute.

Air-India, however, initiated some good moves and Ratan Singh found the equaliser after a flag-kick melee in front of the SBT goal mouth.

Substitute V P Shaji headed the goal for SBT in the 79th minute from a throw on the left flank by Sivakumar.

In the dying mintes, both teams attacked but failed to score.

SBT will now meet Calcutta giants and league leaders East Bengal at home, while Air-India will return to take on Vasco, Goa.