AFC, NACO script wins in State League
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 21 2021:
AFC (Thoubal Athokpam) and NACO (Nambul Mapal) prevailed in contrasting styles in Tuesday's action of the 14th Manipur State League played at Turf Ground, Lamlong.
NACO started the day with a hard-fought 1-0 win over NISA (Thangmeiband) in their Group B encounter.
The Thoubal Athokpam side were rewarded for their early goal that proved to be the decider.
It was S Banta whose strike in the 4th minute secured all three points for NACO, who are at the bottom of Group B table with 4 points from their five games.
AFC, meanwhile, recorded a convincing 4-2 victory over UKB (Churachandpur) to top Group B table.
Sahidur Rahaman found the breakthrough for AFC after 12 minutes but Lamthalal drew level for UKB in the 19th minute as both teams ended the first period in a 1-1 stalemate.
AFC went on the offensive from the start in the second half and that yielded intended results as M Oken Singh converted in the 53rd minute to regain his side's lead.
Then Sahidur Rahaman claimed his second goal in the 71st minute to stretch AFC's lead before W Jitkumar Meitei rounded off their scor ing with an 85th-minute goal, leaving little time for their opponents to make a comeback.
UKB managed to add a goal in the 89th minute through Paolenlal Khongsai but it was too late.
With the result, AFC now sit atop Group B table with 12 points from five games.
There are two points ahead of UKB.