GUWAHATI, Sept 28 � It was a replay of the GSA Super Division Football League matches and ASEB Sports Club proved to be better in shooting at goal from the 12-yard spot in the final of the 63rd Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy Football Tournament.
ASEB SC netted four against Green Valley Sports Club�s two in the tie breaker after the summit clash was locked 2-2 in the regulation time. Thus ASEB won the match by an aggregate of 6-4 goals at the Nehru Stadium here today. ASEB regained the crown which earlier they won in 1988, 2006 and 2009.
Nigerian striker Michael Lucky shot home in the 12th minute to put Green Valley ahead while Ramsang Liana levelled the issue in the 51st minute converting a spot kick. After three minutes Ramsang gave his team lead off a pass from Karma Narzary. But the Green Valley fired the equaliser in the 66th minute off a penalty kick taken by Lucky Imran.
In the penalty shoot out Nitu Narzary, Y Gopi Singh, Ramsang Liana and William Gangte shot on target while Karma�s kick was saved by Cheeradeep Chattopadhaya, who was later declared as the best goal keeper of the tournament.
For Green Valley only Maneswar Mushahary and Fayajuddin Shah could convert their shots while Michael Lucky and Lucky Imran missed the target. They need not to take the fifth shot.
It was a keenly contested match and the 5000 odd spectators enjoyed every moment. Both the teams initiated several beautiful goal bound moves through out the course and scored two goals each.
Michael kept his cool to put the ball inside the ASEB goal after getting it from his captain Shabir Ali.
ASEB earned a spot kick when Green Valley defender Lucky Imran handled the ball inside their box. Ramsang made no mistake in firing home.
Karma, the Assam Sports Journalists� Association�s best player of the final, fed Ramsang after dribbling past three Green Valley defenders. Ramsang beat Cheeradeep with an angular grounder.
Referee Hasmat Ali awarded a penalty kick to Green Valley in the 66th minute when he found ASEB defender Biswanath Karmakar tried to control the ball with his hand. Lucky shot home for the equaliser.
The fast moving ASEB attackers, Karma, Ramsang, Y Gopi Singh and William Gangte kept the Green Valley defenders busy all the time. In comparison, Green Valley frontliners were not effective enough and they were tackled by the ASEB defenders before reaching the striking zone.
ASEB custodian Daoga Brahma got an injury in the 38th minute and he had to be rushed to the hospital. However, his injury was reported to be not so serious.
Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was the chief guest on the occasion. MLA Capt Robin Bordoloi, AFA president Hemandra Nath Brahma, AIFF vice president Larsing Ming Sawyan, Prag News MD Sanjib Narayan were also present in the closing function along with a host of sportspersons and organisers.
