GUWAHATI, Sept 30 � It was an action packed Bordoloi Trophy semifinal match at the Nehru Stadium here today.
As many as five goals were scored, two players were given marching orders and six yellow cards were shown.
Former champions Oil India Limited (OIL), Duliajan booked a final berth with an exciting 3-2 victory against Shillong outfit Royal Wahingdoh. All the goals were scored in the first session.
For OIL, Zaidin Hmar netted one in the 8th minute while F Wary made it 2-0 in the 13th minute. But two goals within nine minutes, scored by Seityasen in the 17th minute and Lalnunpuia in the 26th minute drew the scoreline level.
However, Wary again beat the faulty Shillong custodian in the 29th minute to take the scoreline to 3-2 which remained the final result of the match.
Royal Wahingdoh player Laldinmawia was sent off by referee Rajendra Basumatary during the added time of the first session after being booked twice while Nigerian Bekay Bawar was shown the red card in the 88th minute for committing a foul on OIL defender Sishu Ram Chutia twice. Apart from them, Shillong defender Lalchawnkima and OIL�s Biplob Sonowal were shown yellow cards.
Trailing 2-3 at the break, the 10-men Shillong squad made a tremendous effort to draw parity in the second session. Going all out, Jackychand Singh, Seityasen, Zosangkima, Bekay along with midfielder Mala made repeated forays in search of an equaliser.
But credit should be given to OIL defenders Jyotish Basumatary, Raju Konwar, Biplob Sonowal and Sishu Ram who foiled all the Shillong moves both in the air and on the ground.
For OIL, Manas Manjit Chutia, F Wary and Mintu Boro kept the opponent defenders busy throughout the course but their main striking force Jayanta Basumatary was seen loitering aimlessly.
Zaidin opened the account off a pass from Mintu in the centre in the 8th minute. Wary struck in the 13th minute when Shillong keeper Nikhil C Bernard failed to gather the ball off a flag kick taken by Wary himself. Getting the ball from a rebound, Wary beat Nikhil from an acute angle.
Shillong reduced the margin in the 17th minute when Seityasen headed home from a close range off a floater from Jackychand. Lalnunpuia drew parity in the 26th minute anticipating a pass from Bekay.
Wary scored the match-winning goal in the 29th minute when Nikhil again fumbled in collecting the high ball sent by OIL defender Jyotish. Opportunist Wary put the ball into the net as soon as the ball slipped away from Nikhil�s gloves.
Final will be played on October 2 from 2 pm.
