Meghalaya Invitation Cup
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Ar-Hima defeated Tata Football Academy (TFA) by a solitary goal in the quarterfinal league match of the ongoing 22nd All India Meghalaya Invitation Football Tournament played at the First Division Ground, Polo here on Saturday.
With this victory, Ar-Hima has more or less booked its place in the semifinal by topping the points tally in Group A with six points. The other team in the Group, Meghalaya Police FT has three points.
On the other hand, Nigeria XI and TFA who feature in Group A are yet to win a single point in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the match was an evenly contested one with both teams playing an attacking game. The young TFA team again impressed all with their excellent ball control and attacking game.
Even though Ar-Hima with an experienced side and better understanding of the local conditions proved to be superior team in terms of ball possession and dictating the pace of the match, the TFA lads were up to the task.
Ar-Hima penetrated into the TFA defence on several occasions in the initial stages of the match but all credit to the Tata defenders who kept the rival strikers at bay.
The efforts of the Ar-Hima players finally paid off after Babatunde Oyomedi Badmus’ powerful strike went past the TFA custodian Belal Khan in the 22nd minute to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
The all important equaliser eluded TFA in the first half but the colts came back strong in the second to take the attack to Ar-Hima. They created several opportunities but failed to convert.
Despite a desperate effort on the part of TFA players, the match finally ended with Ar-Hima winning by a solitary goal.
On Sunday, SSB, Siliguri would take on Himalayan Sherpa, Nepal in the quarterfinal league match in Group-B at 2 pm.