Sub-Jr Boys' NFC : Manipur enter semis with 6-2 thrashing of Jharkhand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 18 2024: Manipur completed the league stage sweep and entered into the semi-finals of the Sub-Junior Boys' National Football Championship Tier I with a 6-2 thrashing of Jharkhand this morning at Bangalore Football Stadium.

Manipur's Keisham Bikash dazzled yet again today to inspire the team a big win today as Khutheipham Muktar Rehman, Huirem Chinglemba, Laishram Mahesh and Gurumayum Rohitkumar all contributed a goal apiece.

It was a confident start to the game for Manipur having won two of two previous games and eventually entered into the break with a 3-1 advantage despite conceding the first goal of the game before coming out 6-2 winners.

Aniket Tigga took 25 minutes to give Jharkhand a slender lead but Manipur did not take long to come to level term as K Bikash was quick to score the equaliser in the 26th minute before Khutheipham Muktar overturned the lead in the 42nd minute and Huirem Chinglemba scored the team's third one minute away from time.

Manipur carried forward the scoring spree with K Bikash who scored his second in the 68th minute to make it 4-1 before Aniket Tigga had his second in the 75th minute off a penalty kick to make it 2-4.Gurumayum Rohitkumar further extended the lead to 5-2 after 80 minutes before Laishram Mahesh who came off the bench after 74 minutes netted the decisive goal four minutes into the stoppage time (90+4').It may be recalled that the State lads opened the league campaign (Group B) with a 4-1 rout of Kerala before overwhelming Gujarat by 8-0 goals on September 14.Manipur will now face Group D winners Goa in the second semi-final match on September 20 .

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