The Hindu : Sport / Football : Assam Rifles enters pre-quarterfinals

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Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006
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Assam Rifles enters pre-quarterfinals

Principal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Assam Rifles, Shillong, booked the first ticket to the pre-quarterfinals beating Army Green 1-0 in the Group I final qualifying match in the 119th Osian's Durand Cup football tournament at the Air Force Ground, Race Course Road, here on Tuesday.

Santa Singh scored the all-important goal in the 10th minute off a header before Assam Rifles decided to guard the lead with cautious play. Army Green tried hard to sneak in, but all its efforts were thwarted by the Rifles' goalkeeper Satbinder Singh.

The win ensured Assam Rifles a place in the Group A of the pre-quarterfinal league, in which Mohammedan Sporting, Kolkata, and Air India, Mumbai, are the direct entries. The riflemen will get a well-deserved two-day rest before taking on the Kolkata club on Friday. One team from each pre-quarterfinal group will move into the quarterfinal league.

Fast-paced encounter

In a fast-paced match, Army Green failed to raise its game when it mattered. Having beaten Churchill Brothers, Goa, on penalties, Army Green had a psychological edge. But Assam Rifles, which reached the Durand Cup semifinals last year, played to a plan on an uneven and hard ground. The tournament will now move back to its traditional venue, Ambedkar Stadium, from Wednesday.

Rifles' captain Johnny Kharluki was the playmaker, keeping his wingers busy all the time. With the match just into the 10th minute, Kharluki made the move from the right and sent a good cross in to the middle. Santa rushed in a huff and headed the ball, which took slight deflection off a defender, but nevertheless landed into the net.

On resumption, Army made some headway through Aji and Diwas Chetri, but Satbinder stood firm.

The riflemen meanwhile attacked in patches from the left flank with Ajit Singh and Buke Jigdung keeping up the pressure. In the 65th minute, Ajit covered good distance unchallenged before sending in the cross to the middle for his captain. Kharluki was little slow in reacting as the ball went further for the inside-right Abel Sema, who dived in vain.

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