CHANDIGARH, March 8 :Runners-up Accountant General Bengal wrested title from holders DACR Delhi by beating them with a solitary second-half goal scored by Jayant Jana in the final of the All-India Inter-Zonal Audit Football Tournament organised by AG (Audit) Haryana at the Sector 17 Football Stadium here on Sunday.
The defending champions Delhi began on a confident note in the fourth minute. Initiating the move Daljit moved passed the ball to Sameer Jung through Neeraj. Sameer’s powerful shot was collected by Bengal goalkeeper Prabhat Nandi.
Two minutes later, Bengal launched their attack. Prasanjit gave a pass to Khongsi who took a prompt try but alert Delhi defender Vishwajit Das cleared it in time. A local lad Sanjeev Maria, representing AG Bengal, launched a move from the left and gave the ball to Gautam who slipped it to Khongsi whose rising shot sailed over by kissing the bar in the 15th minute.
Bengal threatened Delhi again in the 17th minute. Prasanjit moved the ball to Khongsi who centred it to Jayant Jana who failed to anticipate and Delhi goalkeeper Avneet collected it with ease to avert any danger.
Delhi retaliated in the 20th minute with a combined move among Sameer Jung, Neeraj and Rishi. Bengal goalkeeper Prabhat Nandi saved Rishi’s drive at the cost of a corner. Before half time, Bengal had an opportunity to forge ahead in the 25th minute After receiving a pass from Khongsi took a reverse kick but Delhi goalkeeper Avneet made a brilliant save. Avneet made another save two minutes after resumption when he gathered a shot from Jayant Jana.
Bengal’s moves bore fruits in the 43rd minute. Dribbling upfront on the left Prasanjit fed Khongsi who uncorked a powerful shot. Delhi goalkeeper Avneet parried the shot. However the ball travelled to Jana who promptly dispatched it into the goal.
After gaining the lead, the Bengal players resorted to defensive play. This helped Delhi to attack with more vigour. They had two chances to score but wasted them. In the 52nd minute, Sameer Jung’s shot off a pass from Dalit went wide. During the injury time, Sameer Jung squared it to Neeraj who was wayward in his shooting.
Accountant General (A&E) Haryana Mohinder Singh distributed the prizes.