Sheffield Football Club and Assam Eleven players tussle for ball possession at Sarusajai on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Nov. 18: Assam today got a taste of English football on home turf, playing and losing, though just by a goal, to the world’s oldest club in Sheffield FC.

The 2-1 win in the friendly tie at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sarusajai, here this evening saw Sheffield round off their Indian tour on a winning note.

In a fast-paced encounter that saw the English club take charge of proceedings from the outset, the hosts, too, did not disappoint the several thousands present at the stadium, with their deft touches and swift moves in a goalless first half.

Assam forward Sibra Narzary initiated the counter-attack for the home team, but his shot in the 30th minute went over the bar. Five minutes later, he fired one only to be saved by Sheffield goalkeeper Shaun Rutkowski.

The momentum shifted in favour of the hosts thereafter with Assam playmaker Thomson Langthasa creating many an opportunity for himself and his teammates, but to no avail.

However, the visitors, who used their height and build to their advantage, drew first blood through midfielder Lee Cooksey in the 47th minute to take the lead. But Assam launched yet another counter and nine minutes later, equalised through striker Victor Chenedu.

The next few minutes saw a battle of one-upmanship with both sharing more or less equal honours in terms of ball possession. In the 73rd minute, a header from Callum Ward created a flutter in front of the Assam goalpost and among those watching. However, an alert Assam goalkeeper Danga Brahma was up to it to thwart the move.

As the game progressed and things got tighter, the friendly tie soon changed colours with Victor shown the yellow card after a tackle and tiff in the 74th minute. However, three minutes later, midfielder Jordan Eagers made the most of a goalmouth melee and tapped one from an acute angle to catch Brahma on the wrong foot and end Sheffield’s two-match losing streak.