Shillong, Aug 2 (Reporter) The Shillong leg of the 133rd Indian Oil Durand Cup kicked off here in Meghalaya on Friday with the opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and in the inaugural match, Shillong Lajong FC defeated Nepal’s Tribhuvan Army Football Team by a solitary goal. Wadjied Ryngkhlem’s (7’) well-directed shot past a couple of defenders around found the net beyond the diving goalkeeper. Both teams moved the ball forward as the match was played at a fast pace, but it was Shillong that was creating the better opportunities. The Tribhuvan Army absorbed all the pressure, relied on the counterattack, and had their moments in the half to equalize. Basant Jimba missed the best chance to equalise just before halftime, as the striker scuffed his attempt with just the goalkeeper to beat. Shillong continued their attacking game in the second half, creating a host of chances, but they were still unable to find the second goal, with the final touch lacking inside the box. Tribhuvan goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu was also brilliant in saving various goal-bound efforts. On the other end, Shillong goalkeeper Manas Dubey kept out Basant Jimba’s point-blank header to keep the scores intact. Shillong Lajong saw off the rest of the game without much trouble to celebrate their return to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with a win. Earlier, the opening ceremony was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, ahead of the first match, who asked fans to come watch the tournament in large numbers. This is the first time that the prestigious football tournament is being held in the hill city. “Shillong is hosting the prestigious Durand Cup, and it is a proud moment for all of us,” the Chief Minister said. Apart from Sangma, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal SP Dharkar, GOC-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lt. General Ram Chander Tiwari, and Meghalaya Director General of Police, Idashisha Nongrang, were present for the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony witnessed an air show followed by a Bhangra and Gatka performance by the 2nd and 13th Battalions of the Sikh Regiment. Then the daredevil motorcycle show was performed by the soldiers of the Corps of Military Police. Later, a children’s choir performed, followed by a dance performance on the song “Badloo Ram Ka Badan” by the boys of the Assam Regimental Centre. The final performance was a musical ensemble by more than 800 schoolchildren from different schools in Shillong. The opening ceremony also included the marching in of the tournament flags and the trophies. The Group F matches of the cup, with six teams, will be played in Shillong. This group includes teams like FC Goa and Hyderabad FC, along with Shillong Lajong FC and the Tribhuvan Army Football Team of Nepal. Shillong Lajong is now on top of the group with Friday’s victory...////...