Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 21:
Goal difference continues to be the deciding factor in the race for the title of the 3rd Manipur State League football tournament with SSU, Singjamei replacing TRUGPU, Nambol on top of the points table at the end of ninth round today while reigning champion NISA, Thangmeiband humbled TRAU, Tiddim Road 4-0 at THAU ground.
NISA would be leaving for Tripura tomorrow to participate in the zonal level Federation Cup football competition.
Hosting USA, Khurai at Lilong Chajing ground today, SSU handed a crushing 4-0 defeat to the visitors with Gaichungam Kamson opening the score account in the opening minute before goals from L Dewan (31st), Kh Ratan (53rd) and AS Thamreishang (67th) took the match from the opponents' grasp.
At Nambol, home team TRUGPU outplayed MPSC 2-0 to tie SSU at 21 points with the Singjamei side pipping their nearest rival on goal difference.
Naoton (31st) and Surchand (84th) were TRUGPU goal scorers.
goals from M Bijen (19th), Benjamin Kamson (75th), S Bikram (84th) and O Pritam (90th) fetched NISA maximum point and the third place in the standing on 21 point.
Playing at home, ESU (Wangkhei) held on its 69th minute goal by Ph Cheitei to edge past PYC, Phoudel.
In the day's other matches NEROCA downed NLYC, Churachandpur at Liberal College, Luwangshangbam ground as YWC, Thambalkhong and AMOFA, Moirang after a 3-3 draw at Thambalkhong.
After taking an 8th minute lead through L Nabachandra, NEROCA fell behind 1-2 as K Thangoulian struck in the 36th and 54th minutes before H Amarjit emulated the rival player's feat to slam in a brace within a span of four minutes (74th, 77th).In the keenly contested YWC versus AMOFA match, H Roshangliana (10th), Th Inaotomba (28th) and Lalrintvanga (84th) scored for the Moirang side while Palmei Poupangai (42nd), W Daniel (59th) and Lensang Khongsai (88th) led the YWC fightback.