MANGALDAI, Jan 10 - Former champions ASEB Sports Club had the last laugh in the summit clash of the 40th Amba Medhi Football Tournament.
Under lights last evening at the Mangaldai Vidyapith playground here before a packed crowd, ASEB outshot Assam Police Blues 7-5 after completing the regulation time with a score line of 3-3.
In the first session, the ASEB boys took a commendable 3-0 lead through Akrang Narzary (13th and 26th minute) and Sujulal Brahma (38th).
But the policemen took complete charge of the situation after returning from the break. Boloram Basumatary made it 3-2 scoring in the 74th and 78th minute. In the dying minutes of the match Mofidul Islam fired the equaliser and dragged the final match to be decided through shoot-out.
ASEB custodian Bishal Sahu made a beautiful save which finally proved to be the match winner. ASEB converted first four shots while the policemen squandered two.
Akrang was named man-of-the-final while Bishal received the best goalkeeper award. The runner-up team was handed over the Ratneswar Kataki trophy.
In the prize distribution ceremony, Mangaldai Legislator Gurujyoti Das; secretary Mangaldai Sports Association, Anupam Deka; trophy donor Biren Medhi; MSA office bearers Pratap Bordoloi and Bipul Kr Sharma handed over the trophies. Earlier in the evening Mangaldai Parliamentarian Dilip Saikia in presence of Sipajhar MLA Binanda Kr Saikia; SP Darrang Amrit Kr Bhuyan and other invited guests inaugurated the match.
