Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 19:
YWC, Thambalkhong completed the semi final line of the 48th All India Sir Churachand Singh KCSICBE Memorial Invitation Football Tournament with a hard fought 2-1 win over former champions MPSC at Mapal Kangjeibung today.
The win paved the way for the maiden entry of the Thambalkhong side to the last four stages as second best team from the quarter final league phase.
The other teams to have qualified for the semi finals include the three group winners, TRAU (Tidim Road), Citizens' Club (Soibam Leikai) and defending champion SSU, Singjamei.
The crucial win for YWC came in the backdrop of brilliantly executed bicycle kick from Lunminlal Khongsai Rama who broke the first half stalemate with the awesome goal seven minutes into the second half.
The YWC opener resulted off a police custodian H Noren's folly in collecting a teasing corner kick taken by Dounmei Kamsom as the ball popped out and bounced to Lunminlal with his back to the goal.
With Noren's sight blocked in the goalmouth melee Lunminlal back flipped to score the most attractive goal so far in the competition.
Even though the police side came back strongly with the equaliser in the 60th minute off a N Deshkumar strike Lunminlal scored the decisive goal one minute from end of regulation period beating the MPSC off-side trap.
The win put YWC in second position behind group Y topper SSU at four points - same as the Singjamei side but inferior goal difference - from the three group quarter final round.
SSU had defeated MPSC in the five thriller in the their first quarter final league clash to settle at a comfortable four points by virtue of former's 1-1 draw against the Thambalkhong side in the first quarter final tie.