A goalmouth tussle off a corner kick during the match between ASEB (in blue) and SAI at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

super division league

Guwahati, Sept. 6: Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) SC rode a solitary goal by stopper Suresh Das to beat Sports Authority of India (SAI) SC 1-0 in their Guwahati Super Division match here today. With this win, the powermen levelled scores with SAI for their first leg loss.

In an upper pool clash between the title contenders ASEB and the debutants, the latter kicked off on a dominant note, but were soon pushed to the back foot with the powermen launching repeated counter-offensives. In the first leg, ASEB went down to SAI by a solitary goal.

ASEB?s Orissa recruit Suresh Das scored the matchwinner off a flag kick by right out Nitu Narzary in the 35th minute. Das found the net on his second attempt. He had made a similar attempt off a Sanjiba Rongpi corner kick only a minute earlier but his header had missed the net.

The SAI boys were comparatively off-colour today. They made umpteen forays into the opponents? territory but failed to negotiate the ASEB defence due to poor finishing.

Besides, there was poor co-ordination between the SAI midfield and forward and the seasoned powermen capitalised on this.

The SAI woodwork was guarded by the comparatively inexperienced Pradip Basumatary with mainstay custodian Bilifung Narzary resting himself as official in today?s match.

In the 27th minute, the SAI boys got the first opportunity to score, but a powerful long ranger by right out Jerold Toppo rebounded from the goalbar.

ASEB?s seasoned medio Kamal Chetry also missed the net on a dual attempt from inside the opponents? goalbox.

There will be no matches on Wednesday and Thursday. Tomorrow?s match has been abandoned with Dynamo Club conceding the points to Assam Police Blues due to absence of several players.

NF Railway has also conceded points to Maharana AC against Thursday?s scheduled match as the former had to leave for Nagpur for their inter-railway assignment.

Guwahati Sports Association has convened a tournament committee meeting tomorrow to reschedule the fixture as NF Railway has pulled out and there is uncertainty regarding Dynamo Club?s participation in the tournament.