Punjab champions, again

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

Defending champions and hosts AG Punjab beat AG Haryana by a solitary goal to win the North Zone Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD) Football Tournament at the Sector 42 Sports Complex here today afternoon. 

The hosts scored the only goal of the match in the 27th minute, when right half back Randeep Singh found striker Amandeep Singh at the top of Haryana's penalty area with a perfect cross.

Amandeep headed the ball past Haryana custodian to give his side a 1-0 lead.

The star-studded Haryana side upped the tempo to find an equaliser, but failed to draw level at the interval.  

In the second half, both teams started off cautiously before Haryana added another striker to their front line to find a much-needed equaliser.  

However, the side failed to convert some close opportunities. In the 56th minute, an effort by half-back Pawandeep Singh hit the pole. Three minutes later, another attempt went in vain as the ball hit the pole once again. The missed chances left Haryana frustrated.

The hosts managed to defend their fort in the remaining part to the second half, even as Amandeep was awarded a yellow card for obstructing a Haryana striker in the 75th minute, to seal the match.