Shillong, Oct 7: Laban SC came from a goal behind to beat Yarkhok United FC of Manipur 2-1 in the final of the 23rd Bodoland Gallants Gold Cup Football Tournament in Dimakuchi, Assam, today.
Joseph Mayowa scored for Yarkhok in the first half but Laban equalised before the break through Eijingmut Lyngdoh’s penalty kick. Victor Shadap then scored the winner in the second half.
With thousands of spectators thronging the small ground in the village close to the border with Bhutan, the final of the 10-day invitational tournament had a special atmosphere. The pitch looked fantastic and would have put to shame any turf in Shillong.
The first goal came against the run of play when there was a slight mistake made by a fullback and that allowed Mayowa, a striker from Ghana, to score.
Laban were able to equalise before half time, however, when a push on the back of a Laban player gave them a penalty, which was converted by Lyngdoh.
Laban were strong in the second half as well, putting Yarkhok’s citadel under continuous pressure. Shadap bagged the team’s second goal after he controlled a cross, squeezed through two defenders and scored past the oncoming Manipur goalkeeper.
Shadap was named Best Player of the tournament. The champions received Rs 50,000 in prize money, while Rs 30,000 went to Yarkhok.
Yarkhok had beaten Reserve Bank of India (Mumbai) 3-1 in the semifinal, while Laban made it to the title match after defeating a team from Tripura 4-3 on penalties after regulation time had ended 2-2.
(Photos: Facebook/tournament organisers)
