FC Zalen record first win, NISA snap SU's unbeaten run
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 27 2017:
FC Zalen, Sadar Hills collected their first full points beating NACO, Nambul Mapal 4-2 while NISA, Thangmeiband snapped the unbeaten run of Sagolband United in the ongoing 12th Manipur State League at the Artificial Turf Ground, Khuman Lampak .
Eager to register their first win of the league, both NACO, Nambul Mapal and FC Zalen, Sadar Hills made an exciting start.
FC Zalen netted all the goals in the first half while NACO managed to pull back two in the second half of the high scoring match that also witnessed some in-field dramas among players at the fag end of the match .
FC Zalen dominated possession right from the word go and it was Paokhongam who put the team in the driver’s seat as he banged in the opener as early in the 8th minute before Lamgoulen extended it in the 13th minute .
Zalen were at ease as Ginminthang Hangshing and Lalminlian Vaiphei took turn to score a goal each in the 40th and 42nd minute.
The Sadar Hills outfits went to the break with their comfortable 4-0 lead .
Undaunted even after four goals down, NACO made a surge in the second half as their forwards lurked in Zalen’s goal area sending the nervous Zalen defenders to scurry for cover .
NACO’s relentless efforts paid dividends as Julian Keishing found the back of the net in the 47th minute.
Buoyed by their first goal, NACO forwards intensified their attacks trying to make foray into their rivals’ territories .
Sovami SP was bang on target in the 62nd minute to reduce the goal difference .
The centre referee had hard time controlling the players at the fag end of the match as players from both sides created some dramas.
S Rahul and L Romenjit of NACO were yellow-carded in the 88th and additional time respectively .
The win today propelled FC Zalen to the seventh place of the 12-team league table with 6 points in 5 matches while NACO remained at the bottom with just a point in 5 matches .
In another encounter, NISA, Thangmeiband, who are struggling to move out of the relegation zone, snapped the unbeaten run of league leaders Sagolband United (SU) 1-0 courtesy of a first half strike by T Surajkanta .
Notwithstanding today’s defeat, Sagolband United remain on top of the league table with 12 points in 5 matches.
However, KLASA, who are perched 2nd in the league table with 12 points in 4 matches, are likely to overtake SU after the result of their match with Muvanlai FC tomorrow.
NISA, though are placed 11th at the table after today’s win .
Unlike their previous matches, NISA made a significant surge in their play today.
NISA’s custodian L Premkumar Singh was an inspiration for the players as he made some brilliant and stunning saves .
On the other hand, SU forwards created many a chances through spectacular aerial passings, but squandered them .
L Gouro of NISA unleashed a ball in the goal area of SU through a corner kick in the additional time of the first half .
T Surajkumar made his last ditch yet swift attempt to the ball which SU’s custodian failed to collect and succeeded in chipping the ball into the back of the net to hand his team the much win .
The second half was a very entertaining end-to-end contest but neither team was successful to get the goal Even as the two sides made frenetic attempts to alter the score-line, but failed to change the script of the match.
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