Sporting veterans will take on former Champions Air India, who edged out FCI (Kolkatta) 4-1 via-tie-breaker in the first semifinal.

Former International and current Mahindra United coach Derrick Pereira open the scoring for Sporting Veterans in the second half heading a ball deflected on by Inacio Veigas.

Bruno Coutinho then showed why he was such a gifted and lethal striker in his hey days. Receiving a ball in the centre from Dominoes Vaz on the right, Coutinho only glanced goalword once before banging the ball into top right corner of the net.

FCI, who had slotted home all their shots from the spot against defending champion KSA Red in the previous round, floundered with their kicks through Alok Mukherjee and Gurmeet Singh, while only A Saleem could score. For Air India Santan D’souza, Anil Lakshman, Raghunath Pillai and Joginder Thapa all were on target.

Air India were on the back foot in the mid field battle, David Cardoz waging a lone battle upfront his speedy runs fetched Air India four flag kicks, defended easily by FCI’s tall goal keeper Mohammad Qudeer.

In the second half too, FCI dictated terms but couldn’t manage to create much of a flutter in the Air India box.