Assam Rifles lift trophy

Oil India FC runners-up, ASEB third
Guwahati, Feb 4 : Assam Rifles, Tezpur lifted the title in the maiden edition of the Oil India Assam State Premier League football tournament. Oil India Football Club, Duliajan, edged past Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) SC, Guwahati, by 2-1 goals in the last league match at Nehru Stadium here today to finish runners-up.
ASEB SC, who could have won the title if they had overpowered Oil India by a minimum margin of four goals in today’s match, had to remain content with third place.
Assam Police Blues, Guwahati, followed them in fourth place as they could not win or settle for a draw in all their final round matches played here.
In today’s match, which was a rather lacklustre affair with both the high-profile outfits of the state putting up a poor show, Oil India clinched the match with an injury time goal by Durga Boro off a goalmouth melee.
Earlier, ASEB led in the first half with a 27th minute goal by Nitu Narzary. Though the Duliajan men tried their best to restore parity, most of their moves did not bear fruit in the first half because of poor finishing.
The Oil India men continued to mount pressure on the ASEB defence in the second half too and found the equaliser through Mintu Boro in the 76th minute.
With the title victory, Assam Rifles have qualified for a berth in the qualifying round of the Federation Cup tournament to be played in December. On the other hand, Moran Town Club, Charaideo, who could not earn a single point in the preliminary round league at Tinsukia, have been relegated to the Assam Club Championship.
Assam Rifles skipper Omana Kuttan was adjudged Best Player of the Tournament.