Naga cops race into final

Bordoloi Trophy

An OIL player (in yellow) and his Nagaland opponent tussle at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati, Sept. 16: Nagaland Police today created Bordoloi Trophy history by entering their maiden final, upsetting a lacklustre Oil India Limited (OIL) by a solitary goal in the second semi-final at Nehru Stadium here this evening. The only goal of the match came through a header by Nagaland Police’s 25-year-old striker Saku in the 60th minute after OIL custodian Prandeep Dutta failed to clear a long-ranger shot. Saku, lurking beside Dutta, headed the ball home effortlessly. They will now face former champions and favourites Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) in the final on September 18. OIL only have themselves to blame for not winning the game. Playing in the 4-4-2 formation, OIL had the better of exchanges in the first half, slowing down the game to upset the rhythm of their opponents. Their strategy was working till Saku made the most of the casual collection by the OIL custodian. They stepped up the tempo but their rivals were faster, strengthening their defence in no time. E. Ratan Singh, the Nagaland coach, was a happy man. “It’s a great feeling to be in our first final. We were lucky. My boys gave their heart and soul in the match,” he said, swamped by jubilant Naga youths who stormed the field to savour the moment with their team. Akon Sonowal, manager of OIL, blamed the four missed chances in the first half for the ouster.