OILFC Duliajan overcome stiff challenge of TRAU Manipur

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: OILFC of Duliajan booked a berth in the final of the Bordoloi Trophy soccer championship beating TRAU of Manipur in well-contested second semi-final held at the Nehru stadium here under floodlight today.

Both the sides played superb soccer in the 90 minutes and the game witnessed five goals. OILFC finally overcame the challenge 3-2.

Duliajan-outfit, who finished top in points table in a group stage, was in good touch. The side came back twice into the game and finally successful to win the tie even though they were reduced to 10-player in the 65th minutes.

The date of the semi-finals have clashed with Kali Puja and Diwali and the matches were held nearly in front of the empty stand. However, a few soccer lovers, who were present at the Nehru stadium, witnessed a nicely contested game.

It was TRAU which took lead first in the game within 10 minutes through Emeka. The striker beat OILFC goalkeeper with a nice shot from the top of the box. OILFC came back strongly into the game and scored the equalizer via Mandila Rongmei in 26 minutes. However, Emeka once again put TRAU ahead in the 37th minutes and his side went into the lemon break with a 2-1 lead.

OIL scored their last two goals in the second half and that too in a gap of three minutes. Sirandeep Moran (47mts) scored the second equalizer for OILFC in 47 minutes while Mandila Rongmei scored the winning goal in 50 minutes.

Jayanta Basumatary of OILFC today got marching order in the 65th minutes for breaching the discipline and home team were forced to play with 10-men in the reaming period of the game.

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