Assam Rifles shoots Army Green 1-0, reaches Durand pre-quarters

New Delhi, Nov 14 (UNI) Santa Singh literally rose to the occasion and nodded home the winner as Assam Rifles, by virtue of the 1-0 win against army Greens, moved into the pre-quarterfinal of the Durand Cup here today.

Tenth minute into the match, it was skipper Johnny Kharluki's inch-perfect cross which Santa headed home and the ball was deflected by Green Army defender Aji Raj before it went past a flailing Min Bahadur before crashing into the net.

Assam Rifles thus joined Mohammedan Sporting and Air India and the top team from the pool would move to the quarterfinals.

Army Green almost equalised within five minutes when Assam Rifles custodian Satbinder Singh thwarted a B Aji freekick and Ashok Lipcha scored before he was found off-side.

Assam Rifles never allowed their rivals any toehold in the match and their custodian was hardly tested in the match.

Kharluki almost doubled the lead just before the breather but his full-blooded go at the goal was tipped over bar by Min Bahadur.

UNI AY DH VV1906