Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 16:
Following a goalless draw against Citizens' Club, Soibam Leikai in a group Y quarter final league match of the 48th edition of CC Meet football tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung today USA, Khurai faces an uphill task to guarantee its place in the last four berth of the competition.
In the last match of the three team group on December 18, USA will have to defeat win-less AFA of Thoubal by at least a win margin of six goals as Citizens' had already handed 6-1 defeat to the Thoubal side and culled four points with the drawn match today.
USA is slightly in favour of reaching the semi final as victory over AFA may place the Khurai side in contention for the semis as second best team of the quarter stage.
A victory against AFA would put USA at par with Citizens on four points each but could still qualify on strength of the points.
Playing under chilly condition today, Citizens' missed several chances that came their way in the first half while the Khurai side left the field a frustrated lot when a penalty award after the change of ends went waste.
On two occasions, USA custodian Thau Johnny Chothe rescued his side by denying scoring opportunities to Citizens' strikers A Premjit and then to L Nimaichand in the 20th and 42nd minutes.
In contrast, USA received a penalty award three minutes into the second half but P Romesh blundered as his shot hit the left upright and went out.
Both sides failed to live upto the expectation of their die-hard fans who braved the chilly condition to cheer the players.
S Rojen and P Romesh of USA and M Romi of Citizens were yellow carded for infringements in the match.