Assam health minister Bhumidhar Barman presents the Bordoloi Trophy to ARC in the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Guwahati, Oct. 9: Assam Regimental Centre (ARC) pipped Guwahati Super Division runners-up Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) to the post by a decisive 1-0 margin to regain the 51st Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy in the Nehru Stadium here today.

The Shillong-based ARC has won the prestigious football tournament in 1999, beating the same rivals from Assam. The Meghalaya side has grabbed its second major championship of the season with today’s win. Last month, it won the Dugar Shield, beating Oil India Limited 2-1 in Tezpur.

T.L. Muana scored the lone goal in the 43rd minute of the final, which was from all accounts a damp squib, both on and off the field. Champions in 1998, ASEB had failed to produce the brilliance that helped them upset Manipur XI 3-2 in the semi-finals.

THE TEAMS

ASEB: Dinesh Basumatary (goalie), Birendra Narzary, Samuel Buglary, Sanjay Brahma, Zenit Sarmah, Kamal Chetry, Kamakhya Basumatary, Lalrem Ruata, Kishore Das, Utpal Basumatary and Sanjiba Rongpi. Substitutes: Sankar Barman, Mitradeb Swargiary, Kishore Brahma, Nitu Narzary, Joseph Lalunuzira, Shyam Bandhu Singh and Lawrence Rongpi.

Assam Regimental Centre: Jembo Singh (goalie), L. Puia Hmar, J.R. Awar Chiru, Sayed Farid, John L.B. Tluanga, Brojen Singh, Samuela, Gordon, Seminthang Chongloi, L.H. Hmar and T.L. Muana. Substitutes: Somendro Singh, Ngiro, Boicha Singh, Z.D. Sanga, L.D. Liana, Sansel Koireng and L.D. Zuala.