Shillong, Mar 12: The Assam Rifles football team edged Lawmali 3-2 in extra time to reclaim the Assam Rifles Invitational Cup in the final in Laitkor today.
Lawmali were thus prevented from winning a third consecutive AR Invitational final, while Assam Rifles reclaimed their crown, having last won the tournament in 2017.
The jawans claimed the lead on three separate occasions, starting with an early strike by M Chetry. Lawmali fought back with a blazing equaliser from Sheen Sohktung but parity didn’t last long as S Rabha converted a penalty before half time.
The scoreboard thus read 2-1, the same margin by which Assam Rifles had defeated Lawmali in the opening match of the current edition of the competition.
However, the two-time champions weren’t willing to give up without a fight and Dawanplielad Myrchiang smashed in the ball from the right flank to make it 2-2.
The game was taken to extra time where, in the 116th minute, substitute L Santa Singh managed to push the ball over the Lawmali goal line after a frenzied melee to put his side in front and, this time, they were able to hold on to the lead until the final whistle.
(TSR photo)
