YPO, DYA enter semis in contrasting style
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 13, 2013:
YPO Sora and DYA Elangkhangpokpi entered the semi final stage of the 2nd JA District Level Men's Open Football Championship in contrasting style, with YPO Sora despatching its opponents SWSC, Kakching Mayai Leikai by a handsome margin of 3 goals to one while DYA Elangkhangpokpi edged out SWC, Waikhong by a solitary goal.
In the first match of the day, YPO Sora and SWSC Kakching took to the field in a positive frame of mind and started off on an offensive note.
With both teams putting their best foot forward to control the midfield and make inroads into the territory of the other, the spectators were treated to an entertaining match.
It was during the battle for turf, that SWSC Kakching Mayai Leikai caught the YPO players by surprise when it launched a swift attack from the flank.
A well measured pass to the top of the penalty box fell at the feet of Sharankumar, who made no mistake with the ball and rattled the net of YPO as early as the 6th minute of the game.
Shaken by the goal, YPO, Sora went on the offensive and launched a series of attacks from either side of the flank but could not get a good look at the goal of the rival team.
The defence line of SWSC rose to the occasion and stood their ground, denying the marauding forwards of YPO, Sora to take a shot at their goal.
Lemon break was taken with SWSC in the lead.
After the break, YPO Sora changed their strategies and relied more on launching attacks from both the flanks.
Putting more men in the attack, they gradually managed to control the midfield as well.
That the SWSC players withdrew only helped the cause of YPO, Sora.
The relentless attacks finally yielded a goal when Nur Safi found himself well placed to unleash a powerful shot that beat the custodian of SWSC hands down in the 51st minute.
Buoyed by the equaliser, YPO tightened their hold on the game and Ali Shaheed netted another goal in the 54th minute to take his team ahead.
The attacks continued and after a series of swift, crisp passing, YPO once again found the target, when Dawat slammed the ball into the net to seal the match with a convincing 3-1 win over SWSC.
DYA, Elangkhangpokpi edge past SWC : In the second quarter final match of the day, DYA Elangkhangpokpi edged past SWC Waikhong by a solitary goal to enter the semi-final of the tournament.
Evenly matched, but a goal that came as early as the 12th minute through W Arun Kumar was more than enough for DYA to emerge the winner.
SWC fought back hard and went all out to find the equaliser but the defence line of DYA stood their ground and did not yield an inch to carve out a narrow win.