Santosh Trophy Group VI : Manipur kick off campaign with 3-1 victory against Chandigarh; Punjab, HP too victorious
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 22 2023:
Hosts Manipur got off to a winning start in the 76th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy Group VI campaign as they pulled off a 3-1 victory over Chandigarh this morning in the group opener here at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium.
Punjab and Himachal Pradesh (HP) also emerged victorious Manipur had a strong start looking for the gaps from the word go and raced to a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half before easing to a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Pangambam Naoba Meitei, Singam Subash and Ronald Singh Shaikhom.
Manipur took only four minutes to take the lead with charging midfielder Pangambam Naoba Meitei connecting a lobed cross lobed into the penalty area by Ngangbam Naocha from the left flank and made no mistake in rifling in a low shot to stun the Chandigarh goalkeeper Nitish Mehra.
Chandigarh also tried to fight back but Manipur defenders proved too strong to penetrate and to their disappointment the hosts doubled the advantage as Singam Subash glanced home a header in the 18th minute off a fine cross from the right flank.
After trailing behind by two goals in the first half, Chandigarh managed to reduce the deficit through defender Laishram Johnson in the 49th minute as he sped past a Manipur defender to connect a well calculated through ball to beat Manipur keeper Ngamsanglena Haokip in a one on one situation with a brilliantly taken low shot.
The two sides then kept exchanging runs with Chandigarh trying to pull level and Manipur trying to add to their tally.
Despite some chances the scoreline remained unchanged until Ronald Shaikhom, who subbed in for Moirangthem Malemnganba after the break, saw his sizzling free-kick from outside the 18-yard box sailing past the wall and the Chandigarh goalkeeper to make it 3-1 during the stoppage time (90+5').In the second match of the same group staged this afternoon at 2 pm at the same venue, Punjab beat Jharkhand 1-0 thanks to a second half strike from Bhupender Singh (66').Elsewhere at ESU ground at Palace Compound, Himachal Pradesh sealed a 2-1 comeback win over Lakshadweep to open their account.
Mohammed Shareef found the lead for Lakshadweep after 39 minutes only to be equalised by Abhishekh Chaudhary for Himachal Pradesh two minutes into the added time of the opening period.
Himachal Pradesh then overturned the lead in the 65th minute through Dheeraj Datta and kept the scoreline intact till the final whistle to seal all three points.
January 24 matches
Lakshadweep vs Punjab at Main Stadium Khuman Lampak from 10 am
Himachal Pradesh vs Manipur at Main Stadium Khuman Lampak from 2 pm
Jharkhand vs Chandigarh at ESU Ground from 2 pm .