MUMBAI: Air India proved in-form Pune FC’s nemesis yet again by claiming a 1-0 win and, in the process, halting visitors’ seven match unbeaten streak in the ONGC I-League football tournament at Cooperage ground here on Sunday.

Striker Kailash Patil’s 54th minute strike also ensured that Pune FC end their away games honeymoon by tasting first defeat in eight games. Air India have won three games and drawn one against Pune FC in the last one year now.

Pune FC looked a confident lot and dominated the proceedings, but airmen who had defeated Pune FC in the first leg as well by the same margin at Balewadi, defended well on their home ground and also earned three points to give their sinking campaign a new facelift. Patil capitulated well on a freak through ball from the centre line by defender Yusuf Ibrahim Tijani to slot home the winner.

Visitors’ defence was caught napping as Tijani intended a long clearance from the centre to find somebody in the striking circle. Call it luck, or something else, he found Patil, who was given free space by Pune FC defenders in perfect position near the box to unleash a neat kick and give goalkeeper Subrata Paul no time to react.

Pune FC tried hard to find an equaliser but were denied by some solid defending and loose finishing. Airmen were virtually reduced to ten-men in the last 20 minutes after their third substitute Dada Nabeel twisted his knee and was present only physically on the ground. Nabeel limped in and out of the ground at will, bringing unnecessary delays and inviting err from the opposite camp. The injury time in the second half went to 7 minutes and Nabeel consumed bulk of it.

Buoyed by the success in Kolkata, Pune FC started off aggressively and created many chances but Edmar Figueria and Izumi Arata failed to finish well. Skipper Shanmugham Venkatesh looked a pale shadow of himself as he missed a couple of dollies and struggled throught the game before he was replaced by Anees Koraliyadan in the 60th minute.

Figueria, Arata and Dohou Sey Pierre manipulated some tricks to carry forward the ball with velour but Edmar struggled on the sluggish Cooperage ground where scoring is always difficult due to high tide winds during the afternoon.

The visitors could have easily put the Airmen out of the game in the first half but were guilty of messing up the opportunities. The hosts took adavantage in the second half to comeback through Patil’s goal and although the visitors tried hard to search for an equaliser but the airmen who are accustomed to the Cooperage ground, gave them tough time.

Air India coach Yusuf Ansari was elated with the win. “It was a close game and our defenders did well to deny the visitors any goal. Air India have now 18 points from 16 games and are well clear of the relegation zone.

Pune FC who had a chance to inch closer to leaders Mahindra United and Dempo SC (both on 29) after the latter lost to Salgaocar 3-2 earlier in the day, squandered an opportunity to remain static on 23 points and in fifth spot.

PFC coach Derrick Pereira was understandably disappointed. “We were poor upfront. This was a problem with us in the beginning and it came us to haunt here also. But I am sure we will comeback and a win in Lajong will be our next target,” said Pereira, who now travels to Shillong along with the team to take on Lajong FC on Saturday.