An Assam Rifles player (in red) attempts to kick the ball while his Anouba Imagi counterpart tries to block him at OIL Nehru Maidan in Duliajan on Tuesday. Telegraph picture

Dibrugarh, Nov. 3: Former champions Assam Rifles, Tezpur, defeated Anouba Imagi Mangal, Manipur, by 2-0 goals to advance to the next round of the 5th OIL India Challenge Gold Cup Football Tournament at the OIL Nehru Maidan in Duliajan today.

H. Haokip scored the first goal for Assam Rifles in the 42nd minute of the match. Haokip scored the goal through a beautiful header capitalising on an accurate pass from the right flank. Assam Rifles led 1-0 till half time.

After the break, Dancing Mukhim scored the second goal for Assam Rifles in the 85th minute through a stunner from the right corner of the box.

The Manipuri team, which displayed some great form in the tournament so far, could not score any goal despite some good attempts.

Dancing Mukhim and Santa Singh were cautioned by referee Hiren Gogoi because of rough play.

Tomorrow, Araldite Kenkre Football Club, Mumbai, will take on Green Valley Sports Club, Guwahati.

Oil India Limited has been organising the tournament since 2005 and this year 13 teams had been invited to take part in the tournament which is now being recognised as a first class tournament of the nation by the All India Football Federation.