U-18 Youth League 2018-19 : TRAU beat GHSC 2-1, dismal start for NEROCA FC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 28 2018:
Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU), Kwakeithel made a positive start to the U-18 Youth League 2018-19 (Rest of India Zone) edging past Gangtok Himalayan Sporting Club (GHSC) 2-1 today at Football Turf Ground, Khuman Lampak.
NEROCA FC, however, failed to withstand Aizawl FC pressure in their first match staged latter today and went down 0-4 to the visitors for a dismal start.
The first match of the day saw TRAU start the game on the front foot taking a 2-0 lead but conceded a penalty in the second half to wind up the game 2-1 .
It was Ng Naocha who opened up the scoring for TRAU in the 29th minute off a counter attack after connecting a clearance ball.
Taking advantage of the lead TRAU continued to dominate the ball and mounted more pressure on GHSC's defence.
It did not take long for TRAU to double the lead as their forwards were on their best to tease the rivals defence with ease and it was in the 36th minute that Ng Naocha found his second goal with an able assist from the right flank by W Sadananda.
GHSC entered the field with more purpose after the restart while the local side were busy keeping their citadel intact and attack hardly in counter.
GHSC however got a perfect chance to cut the deficit through a spot-kick awarded after TRAU defender Ng Nanao brought down their player during a counter attack inside the box just l2 minutes into the second half.
Instantly Ng Nanao was shown a yellow card and Umesh Rai of GHSC stepped forward and coolly finished off the kick to make it 1-2 .
GHSC put TRAU under pressure in the last half hour but did not seriously trouble TRAU keeper.
Eventually TRAU earned full points with the 2-1 win.
In the second match of the day, Aizawl FC had the upperhand from the beginning and put NEROCA in the backfoot as Lalthanmawia shone with a hattrick.
Aizawl FC (AFC) found it so easy to break into the dangerous zone reading well the misunderstanding between NEROCA keeper and defenders in the earlier proceedings.
The game saw some tense moments among the players in the second half but the referee managed well to calm down the players.
Lalthanmawia scored the opener early in the 5th minute while other goals came up in the 15th and the 41st minute to hand AFC a 3-0 lead while the other goal was scored by Techi Tatra in the 16th minute.
NEROCA's Anand Bhattarai (8'), E Joykison (68') were yellow cards by the referee in this match.
AFC's A Vanlalremruata (67'), Lai Chungnunga (68') and Kaleba Lalnunhlima (82') were also shown yellow cards for their rash challenges in the second half.
AFC will face GHSC in the next match on November 30 at 10 am at Football Turf Ground, Khuman Lampak while NEROCA will lock horns with TRAU in an Imphal derby at 2 pm the same day.