Oct 27: A fine brace by Akum Ao steered Assam Rifles team in the main round of the 120th Osian’s Durand Cup, as they got the better off J&K Bank 2-1 in the match played at the Ambedkar stadium here on Friday.
With this victory Assam Rifles qualified for the last 16 stage, where they will meet NFL runners-up JCT on October 31.
The Shillong based outfit showed some great resilience after restricted to ten men for last half-an-hour to pull out an impressive victory. Assam Rifles Omana Kuttan was given marching orders by the referee, observing a nasty foul worked by him on the rival player around the hour mark for his second booking in the match.
But the paramilitary boys held their fort with immense spirit. The Riflemen from Assam went ahead in the 24th minute when Akum Ao nicely guided the ball in, after receiving a fine cross by Thoithoiba Singh.
J&K bank players tried their hard to restore parity but could not succeed in their objective. On the other hand riflemen raided the opposition goal several times, but the rival custodian came up with fine saves under the bar to deny them any goal.
Assam Rifles was leading with a lone goal at the stroke of lemon-break.
On changing the ends, J&K bank pressed hard to find an equaliser following with some rough play from both the sides. Five yellow cards were shown in yesterday’s match.
Omana Kuttan of Assam Rifles became the first player of the tournament to be sent off after being shown the red card. Assam Rifles players sustained their focus and extended their lead in the 50th minute as Akum Ao struck for the second time in the game.
J&K Bank reduced the margin in the 54 th minute when Emmanuiel Nnamani netted the ball for the bankers.
Assam Rifles coach Santanu Basu considered it as a tough match, “My boys matched the pace on the ground but the aerial attacks were a problem.
The average physique of my players meant we had to rely on short passes and it was not easy to check the counter-attacks of the opposition,” he said.
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