Assam Rifles Invitational Football Cup
Shillong: The Assam Rifles Laitkor team proved to be too strong for Lawsohtun SC in the final of the Assam Rifles Invitational Football Cup, winning the coveted title by a convincing 4-0 margin at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.
Lawsohtun, who also finished as runners-up in last year’s tournament, had numerous moments where they shone on the pitch, but goals at regular intervals by the jawans ensured that they were almost always on the back foot.
By dint of this victory Assam Rifles Laitkor were awarded a trophy and cheque for Rs 2 lakh, but, in a magnanimous gesture, the force’s team decided to share the prize money with the other 19 clubs that took part in the competition.
A fine example of good passing early on in the game allowed Mowia to seize the lead for the Riflemen with a high shot into the net in the fourth minute, but Lawsohtun kept up the pressure in the hunt for the equaliser, with Assam Rifles’ goalkeeper Chandra Singh forced to make two sharp saves in the 16th and 21st minutes to keep his side ahead.
After a fine save of his own on the half hour, Lawsohtun goalie Banshanlang Sten collided with an opposition player in the box towards the end of the first half, leading to a penalty kick. Golden Boot award winner Mani Chetry (who finished with a total of nine goals) stepped up and converted and the jawans went into the half time break leading 2-0.
The large crowd of spectators had an entertaining interval with a stirring performance by 60 members of an Assam Rifles mass band, which was appreciated by one and all. That performance was soon followed by another 45 minutes of action on the pitch where Lawsohtun had a chance to get back into the game soon after the restart via a free-kick, though the aim was a little off. The game was finally taken away from the Lawsohtun team just before an hour’s play when Thring Bhutia scored from close range, with Mowia getting his brace in the 84th minute with a delightful left-footer.
Despite these setbacks, never for once did it look like Lawsohtun stopped trying and they valiantly battled until the final whistle, no doubt boosted by the redoubtable efforts of the experienced Milancy Khongstia, Shongdor Kharbuli and Joy Mrong Kharraswai among others. For his fine efforts over the length of the competition, Khongstia was named Best Player. Despite four goals getting past him, Sten was never really at fault for conceding the goals today and his previous fine efforts under the bar was recognised in his Best Goalkeeper award at the presentation ceremony.