Kolkata, March 21 (IANS) Air India rode on fast counter-attacks to beat East Bengal 2-0 in the I-League here Sunday.

Kailash Patil put Air India into the lead late in the first half while N.D. Opara doubled the margin in the latter session for the visitors in the Salt Lake Stadium game.

Both sides now have 21 points from 17 games. But East Bengal are eighth, a rung above the Mumbai outfit, on goal difference.

East Bengal, having collected just one point from the last four matches, looked incohesive while Air India stole the show by converting the chances that came their way.

Patil drew first blood in the 32nd minute as he got hold of a through pass from the midfield and let go a power-packed left footer that went in.

The scoreline became 2-0 in the 76th minute as Opara got past stopper Mehrajuddin Wadoo and then stabbed a left footed punch that went in, stunning East Bengal custodian Abhra Mondal.