Manoranjan football: NEROCA FC, NACO seal last-eight spots
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 16 2022:
NEROCA FC and NACO booked their places in the quarterfinals of the 12th Shaheed Manoranjan Singh Memorial CRPF Football Tournament, following their victories on Sunday.
NACO who started the day against WAFA needed a penalty shootout after a goalless deadlock to seal their last-eight berth.
In the shootout, NACO held their nerves to earn a 3-2 win over their opponents, with Cho Tshering, S Amitkumar and N Steven scoring from the spot.
On the other hand, Md Esha and Th Rohit converted their shots to be on the losing side.
NEROCA FC, meanwhile, fended off dodged NESU 3-2 on their way to the quarterfinals.
NEROCA were dominant in the first half where they scored a double inside 15 minutes.
Md Aruwas Khan found the breakthrough after 12 minutes and Manglenthang doubled the advantage in a three-minute span before Sonit Thapa halved the deficit for NESU 15 minutes before the half time whistle.
After interval, NESU pressed on and managed to break NEROCA's defence as Y Monis capitalised on a space to drill home the equaliser in the 61st minute.
NEROCA reorganised and mounted a flurry of attacks.
That finally paid off in the 78th minute when they set up Benjamin at the other end to drive the ball into the back of the net and ran out eventual victors.
NEROCA FC will face Classic FA in their quarterfinal encounter while NACO will lock horns for a semifinal spot against either KSC or SSU.