Bodoland outshine Morning Star

There was no dearth of support from the stands as home side Bodoland FC curved out a 2-1 victory over Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC — another club from the Assam hinterland — in their Durand Cup clash at SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar on Thursday.Having failed to make it out of the group stage in their debut season last year, Bodoland began their campaign at the 134th edition of the tournament with a win and three points that took them to the second spot on the Group D table, with the same points and goal difference but one goal behind leaders ITBP FT in goals scored. It was a scrappy start to the fixture between the two Assamese outfits. But the team from Karbi Anglong in Assam's Diphu brought the packed house at the venue to a standstill when it drew the first blood in the 25th minute. Joseph latched on to a defensive error from the hosts to slot the ball home and announce the arrival of another club from the northeast on the Indian scene.However, Bodoland struck back in the 37th minute when Gwgwmsar Gayary had a superb shot from inside the box that found the right of the net and bring the match on level terms.With the match locked at 1-1 at the end of the first half, both sides looked eager to press forward after the change of ends but it was Bodoland — the Kokrajhar outfit — who were able to capitalise on the chance created at both ends. A cross after a rebound from a corner found Colombian Robinson, who had been growing on in the game, was at the right place at the right time in the 60th minute for a crucial touch in the box that beat the Morning Star goalkeeper and found the back of the net.Few injury and substitution stoppages, including a bee attack in the 72nd minute, added 10 more minutes to the game after regulation time. But the visitors, despite their constant and quality efforts to find an equaliser, had to endure their second defeat of the maiden campaign, the first against group leaders ITBP in the opener.