GUWAHATI, Sept 25 � ASEB Sports Club, the champions of the GSA Super Division Football League, made it to the final of the 63rd Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy Tournament. It is their first entry to the final after 2009.
In the first semifinal of the championship at the Nehru Stadium here today, the local boys outsmarted Oil India Sports Club by 5-4 goals in sudden death. In regulation time, the match ended in a goalless draw while in the penalty shoot-out, both the teams scored three goals each in first five shots. But the eighth shot of Oil taken by defender Tridip Hazarika was smartly saved by ASEB custodian Daoga Brahma and Daoga himself converted ASEB�s eighth kick, which sealed the fate of the match.
Thus Daoga became hero of the match as during the penalty shot-out he made four splendid saves and netted the match-winning goal. The proceedings started with a positive note as both the teams came out with attacking tactics. The Oil boys in particular looked more aggressive with frontliners F Wary, Mintu Boro and Nigerian Tauras Tecompleh Mannch showed enough courage in the ASEB goal area.
Gradually, the ASEB team got grip and in the 33rd minute made a goal bound move. But it was Jessy Vanlalmuana who hit the upright from a close range. After three minutes, Oil striker Mannch missed a header from the handshaking distance.
The second session witnessed more attacking football as both the teams initiated several goal bound moves. ASEB striker Karma Narzary missed the easiest scoring opportunity of the match in the 60th minute when he failed to beat the Oil custodian Sudipta Banerjee from a point blank position. Oil substitute Zaidinmaijia Hmar wasted the best possible scoring chance in the 75th minute. He failed to hit the target from top of the box after a well planned move made by F Wary and Mintu Boro from the left flank.
In the penalty shoot-out Nitu Narzary, Sanjoy Boro, Ramsang Liana, William Gangte and Daoga Brahma were the successful shooters for ASEB while Y Gopi Singh, Sunil Murmu and Vanlal Zuidika failed in their attempts. For Oil India FC Kehinde Edris Olayinka, Mintu Boro, Sishuram Chutia and Geremsha Basumatary could hit the target. On the other hand Zaidinmaijia Hmar, HL Ruata and Tridip Hazarika were the unsuccessful shooters.
Today�s match: (S/F) Green Valley vs Assam Rifles.
