BORDOLOI TROPHY
Guwahati, Sept. 28: Three goals within a span of only 15 minutes in extra time helped 3 Star Club, Nepal, secure a final berth in the 64th Bharat Ratna Lokapriya Bordoloi Trophy Football Tournament by beating United Sikkim FC 4-1 in a gruelling semi-final clash at Nehru Stadium here this evening.
The match went into extra time after a 1-1 deadlock in regulation time.
In the lacklustre first half, both sides squandered scoring opportunities without any substantial attacks.
Nepal's first attack came in the 18th minute when Niranjan Khodka shot in a calculated pass from the left flank, but Sunil Bal, who was inside the box, failed to capitalise on it.
United Sikkim's counter-attack came in the 27th minute. Shahensha Ansari's free kick from the 40-yard zone on the right flank missed the net by a whisker.
The game, however, heated up in the second half. 3 Star's foreign recruit Kayode Ajayi Martin's header got deflected by the left post in the 51st minute off Bishnu Bahadur Sunuwar's flag shot.
Finally, in the 67th minute, Martin, receiving a short pass from Bimal Gharti Mogor in the midfield, dribbled into the box and shot in with a powerful right footer.
United Sikkim earned the equaliser in the 89th minute when substitute Sonam Tsering, snatching the ball from the opponent defenders inside the box, ruffled the net with a right-footer, leaving custodian Binoy Shreshtha gaping.
Locked 1-1, Nepal dominated the extra time. In the 95th minute, Martin, receiving a pass from substitute Bijay Gurung, dribbled into the box, went past keeper Bipin Bhatta Rai and easily tapped the ball in.
Bijay Dhimal, snatching the ball from the defenders inside the box, ruffled the net with a left-footer in the 100th minute.
Bijay from the left flank shot home off a pass from Martin in the 105th minute to take the score to 4-1.
A fifth-minute goal by striker Nima Lepcha helped United Sikkim gain an entry to the semi-finals beating Bongobir Ogrogami FC, Sylhet, 1-0 in the last league match of Group B late last evening.
Nima, coming through the centre, tapped in a calculated pass by Phurba Tshering from the left flank for the all-important goal.
Judo meet: Home district Guwahati emerged champions in senior as well as cadet and junior events in the Inter-district Judo Championship that concluded at Judo Hall in Guwahati today.
Guwahati judokas tallied 14 points to beat Nagaon with 10 points in seniors and 61-57 points against Karbi Anglong in cadet and juniors. Karbi Anglong scored 56 points against Dibrugarh's 45 for the sub-junior title.
