Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) [India]August 7 (ANI): Superb strikes scored by Allan Thapa and Sunil B along with penalty conversion by Pradeep Singh helped the Indian Army Football Team secure all three points against Assam Rifles FT with a 3-0 win in their Group D match, held here at the JRD Tata Sports Complex as part of the ongoing Durand Cup.

With this win, Army Team moved up to second place in the group for now, behind Jamshedpur FC who have a better goal difference.

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Assam Rifles coach Vikash Panthi has opted for a youthful line-up while Army coach Manish Wahi has selected an experienced starting line-up to keep the core of the 2023-24 Santosh Cup-winning team, led by the impressive Allan Thapa and Samir Murmu, up front.

The Army men used their experience to the full against the young Assam Rifles side, pressing hard up the pitch and not letting the north-east based side settle. They also dominated possession, building attacks from the back with Allan Thapa, Sameer Murmu and Rahul Ramakrishnan finding space in the Assam penalty area.

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While Assam Rifles keeper Dev Biswas was impressive, the Army Men took the lead in the seventh minute of the match through a brilliant shot from Allan, who fired a long-range shot into the top corner off the goalkeeper's outstretched hand.

Indian Army stepped up their attacks from the start of the second half and created many chances. While Shopian saved two penalties from Army defender Chavel, the third penalty taken by Pradeep, another defender, was perfect and doubled the team's lead.

Assam Rifles had more chances to equalise but could not find the composure to put the finishing touch on the score, and the Army team scored a stunning goal in the dying minutes of the match to settle the score.

Defender Sunil B took a superb shot from around 25 yards and the ball landed in the top left corner without giving the goalkeeper a chance to stop it. (ANI)

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