63rd CC Meet : NEROCA FC, KLASA FC win as quarter final league stage begins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 07 2022: NEROCA FC, Sangakpham and KLASA FC, Keinou were able to kick off their quarter final league stage of the 63rd Sir Churachand Singh KCSI, CBE Memorial Invitation Football Tournament on winning notes today at Artificial Turf Football ground.

In Group A quarter final league opener, KLASA FC boosted their semi-final hopes beating KIYC, Kshetri Iril Mapal by 4-2 goals.

KIYC started strongly with Ngariyanbam Jenish scoring the opener early in the 7th minute but L Amit Shah conceded an own goal in the 37th following a KLASA FC attempt and eventually squandered the lead.

With KLASA unable to open their account despite their chances the first half ended in a 1-1 draw.

63rd CC Meet : NEROCA FC, KLASA FC

After the restart KLASA entered the field with more purpose and got the breakthrough goal via L Nabachandra Singh in the 67th minute before Sudhir Laitonjam cemented the lead with another goal in the 70th minute.

KLASA FC further extended the lead to 4-1 when Lunminlal Haokip scored in the 80th minute.

KIYC who were looking for a comeback managed to pull back another goal in the first minute of the stoppage time courtesy Somishon Shirak to settle the game 2-4 .

KLASA FC will play F4C, Saikul in the last Group A quarter final league encounter on March 9 .

Meanwhile in a Group B quarter final league opener, defending champions NEROCA FC pulled off a 2-1 win over Muvanlai Athletics (MA), Kangpokpi thanks to Kh Lucky's double.

The State League giants entered the first half with the score levelled at 1-1 as Kh Lucky opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Haotinsem drew level in the 40th minute.

After the restart, NEROCA FC started taking control of the game and it was Kh Lucky again who found the back of MA net and helped NEROCA FC regain the lead in the 64th minute.

MA too struggled to make their way back into the game but NEROCA FC defence made sure that there was no change in the scoreline till the final whistle.

It may be noted that 9 teams clubbed into three groups are in the fray for top three spots for the semi-final knock-out berths.

The second best team from among the three groups will also qualify for the semi-finals.