GUWAHATI: Assam beat Tamil Nadu 5-1 in their fourth match of Group 3 of the 76th Santosh Trophy on Saturday. The match was played at the Sai Stadium in Kokrajhar. The home team managed to maintain their dominance throughout the 90 minutes of the match. Assam's Jongbala Brahma and Akrang Narzary scored two goals each while Jigyash Deka scored one goal.
Jongbala Brahma gave Assam a 1-0 lead with a goal in 11 minutes after the start of the match. But in 14 minutes Tamil Nadu equalized 1-1 with Sam Martin's goal. Jongbala Brahma broke the tie with the second goal at 43 minutes to put Assam in a 2-1 lead. At the start of the second half Assam intensified its attack. Akrang Narzary scored two goals in two minutes to give Assam a 4-1 lead in the 70th and 71st minutes. Jigyash Deka came on in the 86th minute to secure Assam's 5-1 victory.
Today's match was a do-or-die situation for Assam. Failure means farewell. However, despite today's victory, Assam's progress is uncertain. However, the results of the final match and the equation of the other teams have kept Assam's faint hopes alive. Assam will play its next match against Uttar Pradesh on January 5.
Assam has played four matches, winning two and losing two. Assam is fourth in the group with six points. Assam had started the campaign with a defeat in the tournament. Goa beat Assam by a single goal in their first group match. But in their second match, Assam won 4-1 against Arunachal. Assam lost their third match against Nagaland 3-1.
In another match, Uttar Pradesh beat Arunachal Pradesh by 2-0 goals in the afternoon. Yashraj Thapa scored twice for Uttar Pradesh in the 80th minute and Radharman Yadav in the 84th minute. Uttar Pradesh is third in the points table. Nagaland who is unbeaten at the top of the table will play second-placed Goa in today night's match.
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