Guwahati: Delhi FC lifted the 68th Bordoloi Trophy Football title defeating Nagaland Police by a solitary goal in a well contested final held in the city today. The all important goal of the match was scored by attacking midfielder Kosuke Yamazaki.
A good turn out was witnessed on Sunday afternoon at the Nehru stadium where the two teams clashed for the title. Delhi FC, studded with a couple of foreign players, dominated the proceedings and had better ball position. Nagaland Police also tried to give a good fight in the match and created several opportunities but failed to convert a single one into goal.
The game was just 10 minutes old when Nagaland Police reached close to open their account but Delhi FC goalkeeper Suraj Mallick saved his side with a nice save. Rhitso Mero's centre was nicely headed by Paul and the ball almost reached the goal before Mallick pushed it out at the very last minute.
Thereafter Delhi FC, led by their Japanese mid fielder Kosuke Yamazaki, made a series of attacks on the opponent's goal and were close to score on four occasions. While Neithovile Chalieu, goalkeeper of Nagaland Police, who later adjudged best goalkeeper of the final, saved twice, Y Lamtong denied Kosuke Yamazaki to score in the 32nd minute. Lamtong, standing on the goalline, returned the back volley of Kosuke Yamazaki with a nice header. Arthur Kovassi wasted the other opportunities in the first half.
In the second half Kosuke Yamazaki settled the match with a brilliant goal. Kosuke was inside the opponent box when he received the ball from one of his teammates and the midfielder immediately dribbled past two defenders before placing the ball inside the net.
Delhi FC played the last seven minutes of the game with 10-men after their captain Krishna Pandit was shown a red card by the referee Prabhat Kalita for his unsporting activities inside the ground.
Kosuke Yamazaki was later awarded the best player of the final award from the Assam Sports Journalists' Association which was handed over to him by Bidyut Kalita, the treasurer of the Sports Journalists Federation of India.
Champion Delhi FC received a cash award of Rs 2,00,000 and runners up Nagaland Police collected a purse of Rs 1,00,000.
The closing function was attended by Special Director General of Assam Police GP Singh as the chief guest. Among other present in the closing function were the Guwahati Police commissioner Harmeet Singh, Secretary of the Assam Cricket Association Devajit Saikia, Secretary of the Assam Olympic Association Lakhya Konwar and president of the Gauhati Sports Association Pulak Goswami.
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