Army's Raghu Kumar converted a penalty in the 42nd minute of the game after Air-India's Taposh Ghosh commited a foul. Air-India, however, failed to pose a tough challenge against the winners' strong and stout ball game. The Mumbai side were let down by their old failing of poor finishing.

Among those was a powerful right-footer by Godfrey Pereria that was blocked by Army XI custodian Prasant Mukherjee in the 22nd minute.

Air-India irked by the penalty decision saw Tapas Ghosh booked for dissent by referee SC Singh. An unhappy Air-India coach Bimal Ghosh complained to the AIFF match commissioner SK Murthy against the referee when a handball of an Army defender inside the box went unpenalised. Police escorted Singh out of the field after the match.

Air-India wasted a glorious chance to equalise in the dying moments, but despitethe spurned chances, the army side had the edge with as many as nine flag kicks against two by the Mumbai side.

Four minutes before the long whistle Army skipper LM Hmar just failed to touch home a centre by Arockai Nathan centre. The army side now play the final on Thursday against the winners of tomorrow's second semi-final between Nepal and Williamson Magor Academy.