Air India lifts Governor's Gold Cup

Gangtok, Oct 19 (UNI) Air India Mumbai won the 28th All India Governor's Gold Cup defeating Army XI 4-1 via tie-breaker at Paljor stadium here today.

After the regulated time, the scoresheet read 2-2.

Army XI could only convert one penalty, while the Airmen converted all their four penalties leaving the last remaining penalty inconsequential.

Both teams reached the finals by defeating reputed teams along the way and the final was expected to be an exciting affair. Both teams did not disappoint the huge gathering and went flat out right from the word go.

In a game played on brute physical terms and sublime skills, the momentum of the match swung from one end to other end. Bashiru M Abbas drew first blood for Air India when he lashed into a loose ball in the penalty box and sneaked the ball past several Army XI defenders in the 14th minute.

The score was 1-0 in favour of Air India till the end of the first half.

Air India buttressed their lead in the 58th minute when their captain Samson Singh scored the second goal. Taking control of a long ball, he turned his marker inside out and blasted a shot that crashed into the left bar before disturbing the nets.

Three minutes later, the long ball strategy of the Armymen paid dividends when striker Md Ibrahim put the ball in the net following a comedy of errors by the Airmen defenders.

The stadium roar reached a crescendo in the 67th minute with the Armymen getting the precious equaliser. Again, the Airmen's weak spots in aerial balls were exposed as Army XI skipper Trinakalsu nodded in a free kick for the equaliser.

Both teams missed a couple of opportunities to score the winning goal in the remaining minutes ending the match 2-2. Army XI changed its goalkeeper in a bid to win the penalties. However, the Airmen had the last hurrah by winning the tie-breaker 4-1.

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