4th NIVSO Cup : Tie breaks decide quarter finals
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 04 2014:
Tie breaks decided the fate of the 3rd and 4th quarter finals of the 4th NIVSO Cup played today.
In the first match (3rd quarter final) played between SSC-A and SAIPO, the match had to ultimately decided through the penalty kick as the two teams were locked in a one all draw after regulation time.
The two teams took to the field wary of each other and did not open up their game, waiting and watching for any lapses.
With both the teams adopting a defensive mode, the first half ended on a barren draw.
After the lemon break, the two teams started testing each other, making the occasional forays into the territory of the rival team but the defence line of both the teams stood firm not giving an inch to the other.
SSC-A however did manage to breach the defence of SAIPO in the 50th minute when Bishorjit capitalised on a defensive lapse and did not face much of a problem in netting the ball to put his team ahead.
Jolted by the goal, SAIPO put more men in the attack and they started playing to a plan.
This strategy ultimately proved fruitful, when the ball went to Juransana inside the penalty box.
After shrugging off his markers, Juransana faced little resistance and he managed to despatch the ball into the far side of the net and bring his team back into the match.
All efforts to score the decisive goal proved elusive and the tie break had to be resorted to decide the outcome of the match.
In the tie break, SAIPO players kept their cool and they managed to convert three kicks while SSC could convert only one, gifting the match away to SAIPO by a margin of 2 goals to 4 .
In the second match of the day (4th quarter final), the tie break too had to be resorted to decide the match between Robin Jewellery and PRYA after the two teams were locked 2 all during regulation time.
PRYA shot into the lead when Ajithkumar was bang on target in the 24th minute.
This goal was however neutralised when Nganba of Robing Jewellery found the net in the 32nd minute.
PRYA then went all out to find a goal and this came through the boot of Khem Thapa when he scored from close range in the 53rd minute.
Robin Jewellery however did not throw in the towel and they ultimately restored parity in the 58th minute through Daniel.
In the penalty shoot out, only Sanatomba of PRYA was on target while Ratan, Daniel and Herojit scored from the spot to win the match by 5 goals to 3 .