GUWAHATI, July 13 � Assam Police Blues cruised into the final of the Kaamakaaji NN Bhattacharya Football Tournament with a 2-0 victory against NF Railway Sports Club.
In the mediocre semifinal played at the Nehru Stadium here today, after a barren first session, substitute Rishikesh Medhi netted both the goals in the 47th and 66th minutes.
It was a relatively slow-paced encounter as no team exchanged the ball quickly. The railway players in particular, were not accurate enough in finding their mates.
Midfielders Prasanta Bharali, Bapa Biswas and Dipak Ghatowar tried to initiate moves but their final passes could not split the Police defence. Duleswar Rabha at the upfront and Janak Basumatary in the defence performed to their mark but hardly got support from their co-players.
On the other hand, the policemen were in attacking mood from the initial stage and created several openings. Robijit Jigdung, Joseph Maslai look dangerous in the railway box but the first half resulted in no goals despite some planned moves.
The picture of the second session changed suddenly when Rishikesh drew first blood in the very second minute. Robijit set the ball to Rishikesh off a floater sent by Bijoy Borgohain. Rishikesh struck again in the 66th minute off a move initiated by Joseph Maslai and Robijit.
In the later part of the match, railway players made some feeble attacks but police defenders were too strong to foil all the moves.
Police midfielder Bijoy Borgohain, who possessed the ball for the maximum period of time, was adjudged best player of the match.
Today�s match (S/F): ASEB vs Rising XI.
