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| A moment from the match between Assam Police (in black) and Kamrupa at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos |
Guwahati, July 11: Last year’s runners-up Assam Police Blues stormed into the semi-finals of the Premier Agro Bio-Tech 8th N.N. Bhattacharya invitation football tournament defeating Kamrupa FC 5-2 in the third quarter-final at Nehru Stadium here today.
Karuna Goyary fashioned the lead for the police outfit in the ninth minute by nudging home a pass from Sanjay Rabha. However, the lead was shortlived as Rudra Boro’s shot from top of the box brushed past the opponent defenders into the net in the very next minute. Karuna Goyary put the policemen ahead once again in the 35th minute. Assam Police led 2-1 at the end of half time.
Goals eluded both sides till in the 60th minute when Anitya Rabha capitalised on a police defence lapse to push in a pass from Rudra Boro inside the goalbox beating the opponent custodian Dulu Gogoi for the equaliser.
With parity restored, both sides played a defensive game till in the last few minutes when the policemen rose to the occasion to pump in three more goals in the last five minutes.
Medio Sarbananda Sonowal opened the goal floodgates in the last few minutes heading in a flag kick by Diganta Baruah in the 84th minute.
Substitute Joseph Maslai fired in a brace in the 85th and 90th minutes to make scores 5-2. Maslai scored his first off a pass from Rishikesh Medhi and then pushed in one from the goal line.
The policemen will now meet the winners of tomorrow’s last quarter-final between Green Valley SC and Dynamo Club in the second semi-final on Saturday.
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