GUWAHATI, Aug 3 � NF Railway Sports Club received a heavy blow in their opening match of the Abhishek Motors RG Baruah GSA Super Division Football League.
At the Nehru Stadium here today, playing a spirited game, Food Corporation of India (FCI) Sports rallied to hand a 3-1 drubbing to NF Railway, the champions in the All India Railway Football Championship.
The NF Railway boys were in poor shape today and failed to convince that they are the inter-railway champions. Although they took a lead in the 32nd minute through Sibra Narzary, they failed to maintain it and conceded three.
Leading 1-0 at the break, NF Railway players could not maintain the same form in the second half. Their midfielders in particular were in poor shape and they allowed the opponent frontliners easy passage to their danger zone. Railway defenders were also disorganised and failed to resist the fast moving and well combined FCI attackers.
FCI frontliners Kailash Gogoi, Edenthara, Biswamitra Basumatary combined well in the second session. After the equaliser in the 65th minute, FCI strikers got down in their business with renewed vigour and virtually shattered railway defence with repeated forays. Midfielder Birdwm Basumatary drew level with a well controlled shot at the far corner. In the 73rd minute, Edenthara gave FCI a 2-1 lead capitalising on the opponent defenders� lapse. Kailash Gogoi rounded the tally in the 89th minute. Railway goalkeeper N Ingo Singh failed to gather the ball off a shot taken by Taker Hmar from a set piece. Kailash followed properly and pushed home easily.
A Division: Maharana Athletic Club registered a 2-1 victory against Abutani Sports Club in their Jibeswar Goswami A Division Football League on the second ground of the Nehru Stadium here.
Mahabir Ekka and Rengma Basumatary scored one goal each for Maharana in the 36th and 57th minute respectively while Newson Kom reduced the margin in the 82nd minute.
Today�s matches: Super-GTC vs AP Blues; A Div-Rajbari vs Green Valley.
