Imphal, December 14: NEROCA, LaiphamKhunou held TRAU, Tiddim Road to a 1-1 draw in a group X quarter final league match of the 48th CC Meet football tournament being played at Mapal Kangjeibung.

The drawn match today has also split the three team group wide open and would depend on win margin in the December 17 final group match between the Laipham Khunou side and NACO, Nambul Mapal.

While Naco has no chance of reaching the semi finals following the solitary goal loss to TRAU in its first match, defeat for Nero-ca would pave the way for the Tiddim side to advance to the semis as it is on top of the table at four points.

On the otherhand, Neroca will have to beat Naco by at least two goals to ensure its place in the semis.

Victory in the Naco match by a solitary goal will tie Neroca and Trau on points and goal difference and their fates will depend on toss of coin.

Playing today's match with the tricky calculation on the back of their mind, both the former champions adopted defensive tactics to avoid defeat in the first place and to pounce upon lapses of the opponent to extract win.

The tense tie began on an uneventful note with the first worthwhile action being yellow carding of Trau's N Robin for disturbing a throw-in in the second minute of play.

Neroca had a good chance to take the lead but the rival custodian raised to the occasion to save a seventh minute attempt by P Somorendro.

With the match referee flashing the second yellow card by booking Neroca's H Jiten in the 16th minute pace of the match slowed down considerably.

The match opened up when O Sanatomba fed by T Shyamo from the left flank broke the stalemate in the 20th minute.

Second half substitute H Amarjit restored parity for Neroca with an opportunistic goal off a Trau custodian folly.

A Y Raju long ranger from the right caught Trau custodian Y Deepak napping with the latter's reflex collection ending with the ball popping out to land near an unmarked Amarjit within sniffing distance of the target.

Sayed Firoz and M Sanatomba received yellow card bookings in the 55th and 74th minute respectively.

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