Durand Cup: NEROCA FC beat TRAU 3-1 in Imphal derby
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 18 2022:
NEROCA FC outplayed TRAU FC 3-1 in an Imphal derby of the 131st Durand Cup 2022 in front of packed Khuman Lampak Main Stadium here on Thursday.
Tangva Ragui, Thomyo L Shimray and John Chidi Uzodinma got their names on the scoresheet in their side's campaign opener.
The two sides looked evenly matched in the early stages with possession changed hands frequently before NEROCA FC stole a march on their opponents with a 16th - minute goal from Tangva Ragui.
Tangva dodged his way into the TRAU box before calmly sending the ball into the net.
The celebration, however, did not last long as TRAU fought back to level the scoreline in the 19th minute through Komron Tursunoy.
Khanngam Horam took the ball along the right flank and crossed for Komron who made no mistake in delivering it and put his side on level terms.
After some minutes of exchanges, NEROCA produced another set piece to regain their lead in the 37th minute with Thomyo L Shimray on target by combining with Lallenmang Sitlhou.
Lallenmang sent a sublime aerial ball from the left towards Thomyo, who then leapt to reach the cross and headed the ball into net to make it 2-1.After their second goal, NEROCA grew in confidence and applied pressure on TRAU, who succumbed to the former's tactic.
John Chidi Uzodinma exploited a defensive error by Manash Protim Gogoi to further stretch NEROCA's lead in the 50th minute and NEROCA stood the ground in the ensuing minutes of battle to run out 3-1 winners.
TRAU FC host Hyderabad on August 22 as NEROCA FC face Army Red on August 24 in their Group FC fixtures.