USA, JC progress to Manoranjan football last 16
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 07 2023:
USA (Khurai) and Juvenile Club (Sagolband) progressed to the last 16 of the 13th Shaheed Manoranjan Singh Memorial CRPF Football Tournament in contrasting styles on Tuesday.
Y Sobha scored a hat-trick as USA inflicted a 5-1 hammering on RAU (Lairikyengbam Makha Leikai) on their way to the pre-quarterfinals.
Sobha started off with a 3rd-minute opener before H Tombi (28,30) netted twice in quick succession to put USA 3-0 up.
Then Sobha made it 4-0 in the 50th minute as Lamjingba reduced the arrears for RAU two minutes later before Sobha completed his treble in the final seconds of stoppage to ensure USA's emphatic 5-1 triumph en route to the last 16 .
Earlier, Biken struck twice to help Juvenile Club fight back from a goal down snatch a 3-2 victory against YPHU (Lalambung).
Lunkhongam put YPHU ahead in the 11th minute but Biken's 42nd-minute strike cancelled out the lead before M Manisana restored YPHU's advantage after finding the back of the net in the 55th minute.
Two minutes later, Biken was in action again for Juvenile to make it all square.
Then it was up to Rojen whose 67th-minute effort eventually sealed the win for Juvenile Club to join USA in the last 16 .
On Wednesday (Feb 8), United Imphal will lock horns with RFCC (Keinou) at 10.30 am and GDC (Thingungei) will clash with SAI (Imphal) at 1.30 pm .
Correction:
The result of the second match (Feb 6) as published in this paper's Tuesday issue should be read as ESU beat NAC01-0.ESU won the match on Monday to reach the last 16 .