Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 12:
Citizens' Club, Soibam Leikai and TRAU, Tiddim Road recorded contrasting wins in quarter final matches of the 48th All India Sir Churachand Singh KCSI CBE Memorial Invitation Football Tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung today.
While TRAU scripted a hard fought solitary goal win over NACO, Nambul Mapal in a group X quarter final league tie, runners-up of the last edition Citizens' Club crushed Thoubal outfit AFA 6-1 in group Y.In the TRAU versus NACO clash, Hanggoulal Haolai of the latter side prevented the Tiddim Road opponent from scoring till the fag end of the match even though TRAU forwards virtually laid siege at the NACO goal for almost the entire session of the match.
TRAU earned full points thanks to an 80 minute goal from N Robin who scored the match-winner with a header off an L Bisheshore floater from the left.
Proving a hard nut to crack under the NACO bar even in one to one situation, Hanggoulal denied easy scoring chances to TRAU's N Olenkumar and Paolin Kamei among others before the Bisheshore header redeemed hope of the Tiddim Road side to have a shy at the title after a long gap.
Three yellow cards received by the winning side and one to NACO somewhat marred the otherwise exciting contest.
Later, in the second match, Th Santa opened the Citizens account as early as the second minute while M Rorfti scored a brace in the seventh and 12th minute to swell the Soibam Leikai lead to a comfortable 3-0 before AFA pulled back one through L Herojit in the 18th.Citizens regained the three goal advantage with a Saikhohao Tuboi strike in the 38th with M Romi scoring his third of the match in the 88th minute.
Saikhohao completed the AFA rout with a solo effort two minutes into added period.