Night football: Taphou FC, SMT Haipi, TASA book quarterfinal berths
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, November 18 2021:
Taphou Football Club beat Real Friends' United (RFU) Kangpokpi to become the first team to reach the quarterfinal round of the on going Kuki Football Academy's Open Night Football Tournament.
Dominated by many promising young footballers from Kangpokpi town, debutants RFU Kangpokpi were the favorites to lift the premier tournament trophy despite losing 1-2 to Taphou FC in the Round of 22 .
Though Taphou FC were without key players they had the experience to beat RFU led by former ISL player Boithang Haokip.
Taphou FC managed to find an opener early when their captain Sehthang scored in the 5th minute and led the game till Boithang Haokip found the equaliser for RFU Kangpokpi in the 32nd minute.
Taphou FC had a brilliant comeback in the second half as Thangkhanlal found the winning goal in the 51st minute to be the first team to enter the quarterfinals.
In the second match, SMT Haipi had a 2-l*win over SMT Pangjang to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
Lhungousem (24th) and Thangmawi (65th) scored for Haipi.
In the third match, Twilang Area Sporting Club (TASA) had an easy 6-2 win over Young Gun's Haipi to reach the quarterfinal round.
Lalkhanlen (5th, 47th, 55th, 70th), Donggouthang (13th) and Songpu (23rd) scored for TASA while Hemchon (61st) and Tinhao (73rd) scored for Young Gun's Haipi.