Assam Rifles holds GMHK Lions

Gangtok, Oct 12 (UNI) Assam Rifles held Nigerian club GMHK Lions XI, 1-1 in a rain soaked quarterfinal league match of the 28th All India Governors Gold Cup Football Tournament here today.

The Riflemen went ahead in the 20th minute when striker Akum AO booted home the from edge of the box beating Lions' custodian hands down.

Seventeen minutes later. Lions restored parity when Subair Muri sent a powerful volley to make it 1-1.

Assam Rifles, who earlier defeated Arambagh Bangladesh 3-1, were unlucky not to win despite dominating the whole proceeding.

The soccer fans, who braved a drizzle and thronged the Palzor stadium in large number, were disappointed as the Nigerian team failed to rise upto expectation. The Riflemen dominated the match particularly in the second half as the ball remained in the Nigerian side for a major part of the game.

Alert custodian of Assam Rifles Lokeswar Singh saved some brilliant attempts from Nigerians.

The play was interrupted twice, once just after the breather and another towards the end as dense fog covered the ground and visibility became almost nil, forcing the referee to suspend the match temporarily.

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