A brilliant goal by Air India captain Anthony Fernandes helped his team win its opening Group A league match against Tata Football Academy, Jamshedpur, 1-0 in the Second Division National Football League, Final Phase round one, at the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

After a barren first-half, Anthony exploited a lapse by the rival defence and scored in the 67th minute as TFA goalkeeper Subrata Paul was out of his charge.

Air India could have romped home by a bigger margin had they utilised the many chances that came their way.

Though the TFA players tried their level best for an equaliser, with their strikers attacking the rival goalmouth, they found the Air India defence hard to beat.

In an attempt to find an answer to Air India's goal, TFA 'keeper Paul advanced into the opponent's penalty area and made valiant attempt to convert a flag-kick through a header, but the ball narrowly missed the target.

FC Kochin will meet BSF, Jaladhanar, while Assam State Electricity Board take on SBT, Thiruvananthapuram, on Thursday.