8th AMFA Senior Women League for BM Trophy; ESU draw with KRYPSHA to emerge league leader
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 02 2017: ESU, Wangkhei came from behind twice to draw with KRYPSHA, Naoremthong in the penultimate round of the 8th AMFA Senior Women League for BM Trophy at Artificial Turf Ground and emerge the sole leaders today.

ESU pipped KRYPSHA to the top spot having played four times, won thrice and drew once while KRYPSHA had to settle for the second place having played four games, won twice and drew twice.

Knowing that nothing less than a win was needed to propel them to the top spot, KRYPSHA took to the field in an aggressive style and started raiding the territory of ESU from the early stages of the match.

8th AMFA Senior Women League for BM Trophy; ESU draw with KRYPSHA to emerge league leader

On the other hand, ESU, secure in the knowledge that a draw would be enough for them to be leaders, adopted a more cautious play, content with keeping their goal intact.

The relentless attack from either of the flank saw KRYPSHA repeatedly raiding the goal mouth of ESU, but the defence stood firm and did not give the required space to the forwards of KRYPSHA to move around freely.

The aggressive style ultimately paid off when the ball was centred to a well positioned S Ranjana from the flank.

Taking control of the ball, Ranjana caught a couple of ESU defenders on the wrong foot with some clever footwork and faced not much of an opposition to slot home the ball in the 34th minute.

Down by one goal, ESU put more men on the attack but KRYPSHA stood firm and lemon break was taken with the Naoremthong team leading by one goal to nil.

After the breather, ESU came back strongly and played to a plan.

Their efforts paid dividends when in the 52nd minute Th Umapali found herself well placed to take a shot which beat the custodian of KRYPSHA hands down in the 52nd minute.

The equaliser goaded the players of KRYPSHA to play more aggressively and taking control of the midfield started raiding the goal mouth of ESU more regularly.

The attacks paid off when N Ratanbala was bang on target in the 78th minute to once help KRYPSHA shoot into the lead.

With just two more minutes of play left, ESU went all the way out and W Ranjibala rose to the occasion when she found the net in the 80+2 minute of play to restore parity.

With the game drawn, ESU emerged the top team in the League.