By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The quarter-final league match between Ar-Hima SC and Meghalaya Police Football Team (MLPFT) of the 22nd All India Meghalaya Invitation Football Tournament, which ended in a goalless draw on Wednesday, left several football fans disappointed.
In a chilly weather, both the teams followed an identical technique of short passes from the beginning to the end of the game.
Unlike the previous matches with lots of injuries and frequent yellow cards, in Wednesday’s match both the teams showed lack of enthusiasm spending most of the time in dribbling and passes.
The first twenty minutes of the match was spent in passes and dribbling by both the teams with no serious attempt to open scoreline.
It was in the 21st minute when AHFC forward Babatunde Oyomide’s powerful shot missed the woodwork by a whisker. He missed another golden opportunity two minutes later.
Throughout the match the ball was hovering in the middle of the ground which agitated many fans.
“The way the players of the two teams were playing it looked as if the match was already fixed,” a diehard soccer fan said.
Several spectators left the ground within 20 minutes of the first half. By the time the first half ended the ground was nearly empty.
The second half of the game was not better than the first half
Meanwhile, one M Diengdoh, who closely follows local football matches said, “I am sure this match was fixed.”
“Everyone knows that MLPFT requires a draw to qualify for the semifinal and Ar-Hima had already made it to the last four,” he said
Another football fan W Lyngdoh questioned the management of the two teams for spoiling the spirit of the game.
Both the teams have entered the last-four stage.
