Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 20:
Southern Sporting Union (SSU) continues to be the nemesis of Manipur Police Sports Club (MPSC) in Sir Churachandpur Singh KCSI CBE football competition with the Singjamei side storming into the final of the 50th edition after a 2-0 victory over the reputed police team at Mapal Kangjeibung today.
The winners would take on the victors of the second semi final match between Nagaland Police and NEROCA slated for 1 pm tomorrow.
MPSC's aspiration to avenge the solitary goal defeat to the same opponent in the summit clash last year proved futile as the police strikers not only lacked sting but returned home a dejected lot as the Singjamei outfit increased the victory margin this time around.
Compared to the MPSC forwardline hardly able to penetrate the water-tight SSU defence marshalled by the well built Kh Ratan, Y Priyokumar and N Uttam, SSU strike duo of L Tiken and R Banny Chiru assisted by the medios succeeded in repeatedly foraying into the Police zone but putting the ball into the net remained elusive till the end of first half which was marked by two flashes of the yellow card.
The deadlock was however, broken one minute into the second session when a Charan Rai floater deep into the police zone was headed in by David Kamson to pave the way for SSU's entry into the final for the sixth time in the tournament's
history.
While the diminutive MPSC strikers Nillakumar and Deshkumar were helpless against the tall opponent defenders particularly in possessing aerial passes, SSU defender Th Sankar frequently overlapped his position to add more teeth to the forwardline.
Sustained pressure exerted by the SSU players yielded at corner kick near the 75th minute mark that subsequently led to the Singjamei side winning a penalty award when MPSC defender K Premkumar handled inside the restricted zone in trying to block a Tiken salvo.
The resultant kick from the spot taken by Kh Ratan ensured the comfortable win margin and a deserved place in the final.