With the defending champions leading 2-1 at half-time, the match could have gone either way until a quirk of fate subdued Central. Referee Ravishankar awarded Air-India a penalty after Anthony Fernandes went down to a tackle by defender Sagar Amin -- a decision that displeased the railway side's coach, Irenio Vaz.

The former Maharashtra and Railways goalkeeper felt that referee Ravi Shankar erred. Vaz opined that Fernandes hit the turf after shooting on the run.

Subir Sinha blasted in the award to make it 3-1 and Air-India, also seemingly out of the title race, added another in the dying moments through Ratan Singh to give the scoreboard an exaggerated look.

Debadas Sen provided ahint of a rousing encounter when he powerfully headed in Taposh Ghosh's corner in the third minute but Central Railway restored parity in the 24th when a blunder by defender Radhakrishna Dubey enabled mid-fielder Arif Ansari score. A hasty clearance fell to an unmarked Ansari who volleyed home from 20 yards out.

Either side missed useful players. Air-India's key defender Ajay Acharya sat out an expulsion in the last match against Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilsers. Central were worse off. Defender Amir Lotlikar and striker Lanachuba sat out two yellows and striker Sadanand Khakodkar is indisposed.Air-India struggled to gain control in the first half and Central gave every indication of sweeping into the lead. Asif Jamal, threatening often on the left wing, sent in a telling cross in the 37th minute, only for mid-fielder Shanta Kumar to finish with a wayward header.

Air-India punished that two minutes later with an attractive goal. Fernandes followed a good run on the left wing with a cross and Abbas AliRizvi volleyed in on the run to make it 2-1.

Air-India, seemingly out of the title race with 25 points from 13 matches, appeared to aim for a resounding victory in the second half. A committment that seemed draw physical play from their cynosure Godfrey Pereira whose crunching tackles raised a few eyebrows. The stocky mid-fielder, however, did not lose focus on scoring. A square pass from Rizvi had the international effect a blistering drive that stretched Central 'keeper Raghuveer Khanolkar to a fumbling collection on the second attempt.

Minutes later, Godfrey again narrowly lost out in a duel with Khanolkar -- this time the 'keeper's desperate and suspect charge on the Air-India medio forcing a hurried lob that went just wide from 25 yards.

Central, well in the match, might have entertained a draw if not victory, when star striker Augusto D'Silva weaved and dribbled his way into the box only to overdo it in the 66th minute.

But the next bit of scoring took place on the other side of the pitch andcame from the suspect penalty. Wing-back Subir Sinha stepped up to rifle from the spot past Khanolkar to make the issue safe for Air-India. Goal number four showed the opportunism of Ratan Singh in good light and rewarded the striker for a good day's work.

With only seconds remaining, Rizvi crossed after the referee applied advantage on the right wing. Ratan bolted a few paces forward to head into an untenanted net with Khanolkar a forlorn onlooker.

KAMAL STRIKES: A last-minute goal by Hasan Kamal helped Tipu Sultan beat Colaba Young Star 1-0 in a Senior Division match.