GUWAHATI, Sept 24 � Assam Rifles Soccer Team and Green Valley Sports Club have completed the semifinal line up in the 63rd Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy Tournament.
In two close quarterfinal matches played on the slushy Nehru Stadium ground here today, the Riflemen got the better of NF Railway Sports Club 3-2 while in the day�s second encounter Green Valley edged out Royal Wayhindoh Football Club, Shillong by the barest of margin.
The first match of the day, which was abandoned on September 22, was an interesting one. Railway skipper Bappa Biswas took his team ahead in the 18th minute anticipating a pass from Sibra Narzary. But L Santa Singh netted the equaliser in the 41st minute off a centre sent by Ajit Singh. At the fag end of the first session, veteran Akum Ao struck for Assam Rifles to give his team a 2-1 lead at the break.
After three minutes of resumption, the Railwaymen drew parity through Sasanka Chanda who was fed by Sibra Narzary.
But it was Assam Rifles team which had the last laugh when M Chetry shot home from the top of the box.
Green Valley win: GSA Super League runners-up Green Valley Sports Club recorded a hard-fought 1-0 victory against I-League outfit from Shillong Royal Wayhingdoh Football Club in the last quarterfinal.
George Prince scored the all important goal in the 17th minute. But the architect of the goal was their captain Shabir Ali who set the ball for George with a solo effort. Shabir dribbled for atleast 40 yards before sending the ball to George inside the goal area. George kept his cool and gently pushed home in an empty goal.
The Shillong boys were unlucky in the early stage of the match for not going ahead. Their strikers � Kh Tajuddin, A Sushil Meitei and Kitob Pale � missed out few easy scoring opportunities. The nimble-footed Shillong players had been a cause of concern for the Green Valley defenders in the early part of the match.
But gradually the local boys got their act together and started keeping pressure on the opponent. Green Valley defenders, Jenga Rongmei in particular, deserve credit for foiling several Wayhingdoh moves throughout the course.
Both the goalkeepers, Chhradeep Chattopadhaya of Green Valley and Bishorjit Singh performed creditably.
Today�s match: (S/F) Oil India SC vs ASEB SC.
