Assam Rifles players receive the ATPA Shield from ONGC executive S. Choudhari (second from right) in Jorhat on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Sept. 17: The 48th ATPA Shield final at Jorhat Stadium today was poised to be anybody’s game after regulation time ended with Oil India Limited (OIL), Duliajan, and Assam Rifles, Tezpur, locked in a 1-1 draw. Then, in the dying minutes of extra time, Rifles’ mercurial striker Akum Ao proved just how well the Best Player of the Tournament crown fits him.

Ao netted the matchwinner in the nick of time to help the paramilitary team lift the ATPA Shield — after more than four decades — defeating OIL by two goals to one.

Playing in heavy underfoot conditions following inclement weather for over a week, OIL gained the lead in the sixth minute, when Durga Boro dodged two Assam Rifles defenders to net the first goal.

OIL led 1-0 at the breather.

In the second session, the Tezpur men regrouped and their efforts bore fruit in the 64th minute with Ao pumping in the equaliser. Dribbling the ball from the midfield onwards, Ao beat three opponent players at different levels before ruffling the net with a spectacular shot.

Assam Rifles failed to convert at least two certain goals because of the slush.

Durga Boro of OIL and Manas Manjit Chetia of Nepathya Club, Jorhat, were jointly named the highest scorers of the tournament with three goals each. Food Corporation of India Sports Club, Guwahati, won the Fairplay Trophy.

OIL, which won the 20th J.N. Bhuyan tournament in Tinsukia recently, felt the absence of Birjab Mushahary for the most part. Mushahary, who has been sick for some time, was rested on the substitute bench till late in the second half, when he was fielded as a substitute. However, health problems took away the sting from his game.

Five-time finalists Assam Rifles had won the tournament in 1966, defeating Assam Police.

ONGC has extended a grant of Rs 75,000 to the organisers, Jorhat District Sports Association.

Association president and Jorhat MLA Rana Goswami thanked the company and hoped similar gestures would help develop sports.