In the keenly contested final at the Nehru Stadium here today, the Riflemen edged past Oil India Football Club 2-1.
L Santa Singh put Assam Rifles ahead in the 23rd minute with a long ranger while L Kima enhanced the margin in the 59th minute with a sharp header.
For OIL, HL Ruata fired the reducer in the 89th minute.
Both the teams were in positive mood from the initial stage. They tried to build moves using their armouries. OIL frontliners Emanual Okoro, Egware Charles and F Wary used their best possible skills to beat the Rifles defence throughout the course. But their final passes were too poor and could not penetrate the watertight Assam Rifles defence.
On the other hand, Rifles attackers – Ajit Kumar Singh, L Haokip and L Kima – kept the OIL defenders busy most of the time.
L Santa Singh’s goal was a brilliant one as his 35-yard pile drive beautifully sailed into the goal deceiving OIL custodian Jitu Chetri. Rifles’ second goal was a result of team effort. Substitute Akum Ao sent the floater from the left flank aiming unmarked Kima who did not miss to head home from a close range.
Ruata’s goal was also eye-catching as he hardly gave any scope to Rifles goalkeeper Lokeswar Singh to save his drive almost from centre circle. But it was too late for OIL as three minute extended time started after his goal.
In the prize-distribution ceremony, MLA Robin Bordoloi was present as chief guest. Assam Football Association president Hemendra Nath Brahma, secretary Ankur Dutta, top Airtel officials Jeorje Mathen, Tridip Sarma, Director General of Sports Authority of Assam, Pradip Hazarika were also present in the function.
The winning team got Rs 1 lakh while the runners-up team walked away with Rs 50,000 as prize-money.