Air India book final berth

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Air India galloped into the final of the E.K. Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup football tournament by hammering five goals past Southern Samity’s goalkeeper to win 5-1 in the semifinal at the Kozhikode Corporation Stadium here on Monday.

Air India captain Ezeh Henry struck twice in the match to lead his team to a facile win over the second division side in front of a decent crowd gathered to watch the game. Three of the five goals were scored in the first half as Air India forwards converted most of their chances.

The opener was scored by Henry against the run of the game in the 25th minute when he headed a freekick taken by Royston D’Souza safely into the back of the net. Though it was Samity players who controlled the game in the first 20 minutes, through a couple of near-goals, Air India later capitalised on the lack of pace of the Samity defenders.

The second goal came in the 39th minute from a beautiful solo run by their Japanese striker Takayuki Omi, who started his run towards goal from the half line, beating defenders the Samity custodian to score.

Samity, who were subdued, thanks to the second goal, received a third blow in the 45th minute when Kerala player Muhammed Shafi scored through an assist from Prakash Thorat.

Ezeh scored his fifth goal of the tournament in the second half from a header off Royston’s right-winged cross, taking the score to 4-0 in the 48th minute. Both players teamed up from the midfield with quick-passing, a strategy that culminated in a neat goal by Ezeh. Next, it was Royston’s turn to nail Samity.

He tapped in a cross from Prakash Thorat to the right bottom corner in the 62nd minute to score his first. Alfred Ndyenge scored the only goal for Samity four minutes later as he headed in a corner.

Air India will play B.N. Railway in the final on Wednesday.