57th CC Meet : SSU edge past AIM to make Quarter finals cut
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 02 2014: SSU, Singjamei edged past AIM, Khabam by a solitary goal to nil today in the 57th CC Meet Football Tournament to join TRAU, TRUGPU, NISA, NEROCA (Defending Champion), ARC Shillong, SSB (West Bengal) and Reitlang FC, Mizoram in the quarter finals of the ongoing football tournament being played at Mapal Kangjeibung.

Both teams started off on a cautious note, testing each other, and while SSU by and large dominated the match with better ball possession, it was the side from Khabam which had the first look at the goal on either side of the break.

Against the run of play, Th Vandona of AIM managed to take the ball into the danger zone of SSU after neatly side stepping a couple of defenders and let loose a powerful shot, only to see the ball ballooning over the bar.

Th Vandona was at it yet again in the 60th minute of the second half, when he had only the goalkeeper to beat, with the defenders of SSU in disarray.

Instead of taking advantage of the situation and making capital out of it, the striker released a weak shot.

This gave ample time to defender Y Sachidananda to come out from nowhere and clear the ball from near the goal line, leaving the AIM players exasperated.

Lemon break was taken with both teams unable to break the deadlock.

The near miraculous save effected by SSU's defender Y Sachidananda, galvanised the SSU players to give more thrust and purpose to their play and attack.

The deciding goal came in the 70th minute, when SSU defender Kh Oken in a solo effort took the ball deep into the half side of AIM and gave a crisp, short pass to a lurking Md Riyaj Khan on the right flank.

Khan pounced on the ball and unleashed a powerful shot, beating the AIM goalkeeper hands down and the defenders rooted to the ground.

After the 70th minute goal, AIM picked up their game and raided the citadel of SSU on a couple of occasions, but the alert SSU defenders were up to the mark and denied the AIM strikers any good look at the goal.

Four players of SSU were booked while two players of AIM were yellow carded for offences.

Th Vandona of AIM was cautioned for a foul committed on SSU defender Md Imran Khan in the 6th minute, defender Surjit in the 75th minute for a foul on Md Riyaj Khan while L Gogocha of SSU was shown the yellow card for intentionally handling the ball in the 4th minute, Shahid Ahmed in the 24th minute for a foul on Vandona and Md Shahidur Rehman in the 38th minute for a foul on AIM captain Rajesh Meitei.

In the first quarter final tomorrow, TRAU will take on ARC Shillong.

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