GUWAHATI, Feb 8 � Oil India Football Club entered the final of the 3rd Airtel State Premier League outshooting ASEB Sports Club by an aggregate of 7-6 goals in sudden death. In the mediocre semifinal match at Nehru Stadium here today, both the teams netted one goal each in the regulation time.
Dipankar Sarkar forged ASEB ahead with a gem of a goal in the 27th minute. Dipankar unleased a firm drive from 25 yards at the B Borooah end and the ball beat all the defenders and OIL custodian Jitu Chetry at the far post. At the fag end of the first session, OIL missed the equaliser by a whisker when Imanual Okoro�s shot hit the ASEB goal�s bar. In the second session, ASEB players lost their rhythm, particularly the midfielders, and as a result OIL attackers started raiding their goal quite frequently. In the 87th minute, Okoro missed a spot kick conversion by which the fate of the match could have been sealed.
In the penalty shoot-out, both the teams netted five goals each. For OIL, HL Ruata, Zaidin Hmar, F Wary, Jayanta Basumatary, Biplob Sonowal were the successful shooters. For ASEB, Nitu Narzary, Biplob Kundu, Sanjoy Boro, Maneswar Musahary, Khirod Das hit the target. But ASEB custodian Daoga Brahma�s shot was brilliantly saved by his OIL counterpart while Okoro managed to fire home from the 12-feet spot.
Today�s match (semifinal): GTC vs Assam Rifles.
