Bureaucrats XI regained trophy in the Tata Steel Friendship Cup Football Tournament, defeating host Tata Steel XI in the final by 5-3 goals, via penalty shoot out here at Kalinga Stadium today. The final went to the tie-breaker after play in regulation time ended in goalless draw. This was the sixth title triumph by Bureaucrats XI, who earlier reigned supreme for five years in a row from 2011 to 2015.
Earlier in the first semifinal of the one-day tournament, Bureaucrats XI edged out Legislators XI 4-2, also in penalty shoot out after play in the regulation time ended in 1-1 draw. SD Durga gave Bureaucrats XI the lead, while Nayagarh MLA Arun Sahoo equalized for Legislators XI with a spectacular long-range shot. In the second semifinal, Tata Steel XI eliminated defending champions Media XI by a solitary goal, which was scored in the second half by Mohan Singh Gagrai.