Dibrugarh, Nov. 19: Arhima Sports Club, Meghalaya, will take on North Imphal Sports Association (NISA), Manipur in the final of the Group D qualifying rounds of the 31st Federation Cup Football Tournament at OIL Nehru Maidan stadium in Duliajan on Saturday.

NISA defeated a determined Assam Rifles, Tezpur, by 2-1 goals at the same venue today. Both the teams began the encounter on an even keel and for the first half hour, neither side could score.

NISA, however, got the upper hand when Th. Santosh Singh scored the first goal in the 32nd minute through a solo effort.

Assam Rifles failed to effect a comeback and NISA led 1-0 till half time.

In the second half, the Manipur side made its intentions clear from the beginning and adopted an attacking strategy.

Their efforts bore fruit when N. Rajesh Meitei scored the second goal for the Manipur team in the 56th minute through a long ranger.

Assam Rifles refused to go down without a fight and the side’s prolific striker Abel Sema scored the lone goal for his team in the 71st minute, capitalising on a well-judged cross from fellow striker Bulu Jigdung.

Assam Rifles tried to net the equaliser in the dying moments, but failed to penetrate the rock-solid Manipuri defence.

Bulu Jigdung, Ngouba Singh and Dancing Mukhim of Assam Rifles and S. Thomas Singh of NISA were cautioned by referee Rathin Mukherjee with yellow cards for rough play.