22nd Winners Cup : UKB, AFC secure wins in their first semi-final legs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 10 2017:
UKB, Churachandpur beat RAU, Lairikyengbam Leikai 1-0 while AFC Thoubal defeated NCC, Khonghampat 2-0 in the first semi-final legs of the ongoing of the 22nd Winners Cup staged today.
In the first match, RAU, Lairikyengbam Leikai suffered a narrow 1 -0 defeat at its home ground, Artificial Turf Ground located at Khuman Lampak.
The visitor, UKB registered the single goal very early in the first minute.
Paosei Haokip did a well job in collecting a pin point long pass from the midfield which fell near the goalmouth of RAU and crashed the ball past the custodian to take the early lead which lasted till the end
of the game.
Luckless RAU went on with full offensive but their attempts could not make the change in front of UKB which slipped into defensive format after the goal.
RAU which reached the semi-finals without a single loss now have to look for a huge win in the return leg against UKB so as to secure a place in the final.
In another semi-final leg, AFC Thoubal managed to beat the visitor, NCC 2-0 at their homeground, RYDO ground Charangpat.
Two gaols in the first half put AFC ahead till the last whistle of the match.
It was Md Shahidur who scored the brace in the 7th and 16th minue to hand AFC an easy 2-0 victory against NCC, Khonghampat.