8th Manipur State League football
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 22 2013:
Thanks to veteran striker I Nilakumar, former champions NISA, Thangmeiband sealed its place in the knockout stage of the 8th Manipur State League football tournament with a 3-1 victory over USA, Khurai in their last preliminary round match at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today.
the other match played today between TRUGPU, Nambol and TRAU, Kwakei-thel ended in a goalless draw.
Nilakumar opened the NISA score in the fifth mi-nute, doubled the advantage in the 70th and rounded off the victory with his third in the 83rd minute after S Dina-kumar had pulled back one for the Khurai side in the 76th.With today's win, NISA climbed to the top of the points table with 17 points, same as SSU (Singjamei) but with a better head-to-head record that the latter, who are the league's reigning champions.
Even though four matches still remain for the preliminary round to complete, NEROCA, Sangakpam are also secured of the knock-out slot having culled 16 points in the 10-team league competition.
TRAU and TRUGPU are the current fourth and fifth placed teams respectively.
The knock-out stage will feature top six finishers of the preliminary round.
The final ninth round match tomorrow will be must-win game for ZFC, Chura- chandpur (10 pts) and AIM, Khabam (11 pts) to seal a place in the knock-out stage.
Jiribam: Echel Club, Di-bong and LYC, Lungreijang settled for a 1-1 draw in the 11th Th Radhamani Memorial First Division football league tournament at Jiribam higher Secondary School ground today.
Joyson scored the Echel goal in the 18th and Agugang levelled for LYC in the 30th minute.
2nd Div: MHGAU, Golapti and NIVSO, Keibi scored identical 2-1 victories against UDO, Heingang and BPYC, Bashikhong respectively in the Ng Boboy Memorial 2nd Division football league match at ABA Ground, Kshetrigao today.
Zia-ur-Rahman (21st) and Suraj (61st) scored the Golapati goals against YDO for whom Kh Shitaljit netted in the 56th.W Shanta scored both the goals (52nd, 55th) to script NIVSO's comeback win after N Pratap scored for BPYC in the 51st.