GUWAHATI, Feb 9 � Assam Rifles set up the title clash with Oil India Limited (OIL) Football Club in the 3rd Airtel State Premier League Football Championship.
In the second semifinal played at the Nehru Stadium here today, the Riflemen outshot Gauhati Town Club 4-2 in tie-breaker. Both the teams failed to break the deadlock in the regulation time. The clash between two leading teams of the State never rose to expectations as players of both the teams looked tired and were reluctant to go all out. Barring few players like Akum Ao, Bulu Jigdung of Assam Rifles and Ikoraoha Christian, Rocky Philem of Town, most of the other players were hardly on their toes throughout the course of the match.
In the 28th minute, Bulu�s drive hit the Town upright and that was the only positive attack from either sides in the first session. In the second half, Town frontliners were more aggressive with their captain Christian trying to cruise through the opponent�s defence line. He and Rocky did everything but release the final punch as Rifles custodian S Lokeswar Mutu was good both on ground and in the air.
Star striker of Assam Rifles Akum Ao, who was tightly marked by the Town defenders managed to set the ball for Bulu in the 65th minute but the later failed to divert it to the goal. In the penalty shoot-out, Ajit Kumar Singh, Omana Kuttan, Abel Sema and Akum Ao were right in target while Bulu Jigdung�s shot flew far above the crosspiece.
For Town, only S Kishan Singh and John Nanna were the only successful shooters while Christian�s shot hit the bar and Ricky Lallawmawma�s shot was saved.
The final has been slated for Friday.
