Assam Rifles storm into semis of Gold Cup

Gangtok, Oct 16 (UNI) A hat-trick by Abel Sema helped Assam Rifles beat Sikkim Police 3-1 and stormed into the semifinals of the 28th All India Governors' Gold Cup Football Tournament at Paljor stadium here today.

The Riflemen would now meet Air India (Mumbai) in the first semifinal match here tomorrow.

Before the crowd could settle to their vantage position to cheer the local side, Abel Sema, after collecting a rebound ball from rival custodiun Bimal Bagdas, outwitted three defenders and unleashed a right footer from a close range that hit the target in the third minute 1-0.

Finding a reverse, policemen tried their best for an equaliser but failed. At half time AR were leading 1-0.

After the breather, Sema booted home again in 53rd minute and took his team's tally to 2-0. Nineteen minutes later his dream run for a hat-trick came true when he converted a cross from close range to make 3-0.

This was the first hat-trick in this current tournament.

A minute later Kamal Bagdas reduced scored the consolation goal for policemen.

On Wednesday Nigerians' GMSK Lions XI will play against Army XI.

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