Players of OIL FC (in yellow) and Assam Rifles tussle for the ball at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Friday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Feb. 11: Assam Rifles, Tezpur, retained the Airtel Assam State Premier League football tournament title for the third consecutive time, defeating Oil India FC, Duliajan 2-1 in the final of the third edition at Nehru Stadium today.

After a mediocre start, Assam Rifles gained command over the proceedings after the first 15 minutes and medio L. Santa Singh fashioned the lead for the side with a spectacular left footer that left Oil India custodian Jitu Chetri gaping in the 23rd minute.

Assam Rifles led by the solitary goal in the lemon break, as the Oil India men squandered three back-to-back opportunities in the last minute of the first half.

The riflemen got their second opportunity when striker L. Kima converted a pass from the left flank by Thoithoiba Singh in the 59th minute.

Trailing by two goals, the Oil India men made several attempts to regroup but were soon pushed onto the backfoot.

Oil India finally managed to go all out in the last five minutes of the match and the experienced medio H.L. Routa finally reduced the margin in the last minute with a power packed floater from the 40-yard area. He got the opportunity off a flag kick of Ziadinmawia Hmar.

The winners went home richer by Rs 1 lakh while the runners-up were presented with Rs 50,000. With the victory, Assam Rifles have also qualified for the Federation Cup qualifiers.

East Guwahati MLA Robin Bordoloi, Assam Football Association president H.N. Brahma, Sports Authority of Assam director general Pradip Hazarika, title sponsor Bharti Airtel’s chief operating officer of Northeast Jeorge Mathen and others attended the prize distribution ceremony.