KSC ease into Winners' Cup final as PAMYAL down UBFC in semis first leg
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 08 2022:
KSC (Kangpokpi) ensured their place in the final of the 25th Winners' Cup with a 4-0 hammering of XI-Star SU in the second leg of their semifinal encounter on Saturday while PAMYAL (Imphal West) earned a 5-3 advantage against UBFC (Ukhrul) in their last-four first leg tie.
All the goals of KSC came in the second half.
After a frustrating goalless first half, the Kangpokpi side switched up their tactics after the halftime break and the game burst into life within 13 minutes, with Seiminhao firing home their opener in the 58th minute.
XI-Star's defence looked in disarray as KSC needed just five minutes to extend their lead to 2-0 courtesy of a strike by Robinson.
Things went from bad to worse for XI-Star in the ensuing minutes of exchanges and they never recovered.
Solomon stood out in the latter stages of the game as he tripled KSC's lead in the 71st minute and he went on to slot home his second in the 83rd minute to see his side come out 4-0 victors en route the final.
Earlier, PAMYAL rode on Rojen's hat-trick to beat UBFC 5-3 in the first leg of their semifinal fixtures.
Rojen put PAMYAL 1-0 up only five minutes from kickoff and then he made it 2-0 in the 27th minute before Thotngavung reduced the deficit for UBFC in the 30th minute.
After the interval, Rojen completed his hat-trick with a 71st-minute effort as Khangaman found UBFC's second goal in the 78th minute.
PAMYAL scored their fourth goal in the 82nd minute through Rajkumar before Chrisdan Kamson revived UBFC's comeback effort, scoring their third goal in the 90th minute.
But PAMYAL held on and added a goal in the final seconds of stoppage time to secure a 5-3 result.