76th NFC for Santosh Trophy Group VI : Manipur thump Lakshadweep 3-1 for third win on trot, Punjab held by Chandigarh
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 27 2023: Hosts Manipur continued their fine form in the 76th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy Group VI competition clinching a 3-1 win over Lakshadweep today at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium for the third straight win.

The result also lifted Manipur at the top of the table with 9 points as Punjab remained second with two wins and a draw in three matches so far.

High after two comfortable wins, Manipur started the game with a bang as Maibam Deny scored an absolute screamer from outside the 18-yard box to hand the lead just three minutes into the game.

76th NFC for Santosh Trophy Group VI : Manipur thump Lakshadweep

Manipur continued to press Lakshadweep and eventually doubled the advantage after 34 minutes with a header from Ngangbam Naocha.

Lakshadweep custodian Md Ihsan must have regretted the goal as he failed to punch out safely an incoming cross from the right flank and the aerial ball was found by Naocha who made no mistake in heading home.

After the break, Lakshadweep toiled hard to pull back a goal and off a fortuitous circumstance they did manage to half the deficit at the stroke of the hour mark as Md Shareef P who came off the bench after the break stunned the Manipuri custodian with a volley from just few steps past the halfway line.

Manipur however fend off efforts from Lakshadweep to draw level and further cemented their lead with a beautiful header from Seigoumang Doungel who subbed in for Ngangbam Naocha after 67 minutes.

It was a fine set up from the Manipuri midfielders as they kept looking to break through the defence line with some slick passes before Yami Longvah sent in a superb cross into the area and Seigoumang rose from among Lakshadweep defenders to execute the header.

Later in the afternoon encounter at the same venue, Punjab were held to a 1-1 draw by Chandigarh.

Punjab and Chandigarh spent the first half goalless but Punjab went ahead after 52 minutes off a howler by Jatin Yadav as he netted into his own net.

The lead was however cancelled out three minutes later as Nepolian Moirangthem found the equaliser.

The two sides failed to make the most of the later chances and ended up sharing a point each.

In another afternoon match staged at ESU ground, Jharkhand edged past Himachal Pradesh 2-1 for the second victory after first game defeat in the hands of hosts Manipur.

Birsha Tudu handed Jharkhand the lead early in the 6th minute before substitute Vimal Kumhar made it 2-0 at the stroke of the hour mark.

Himachal Pradesh however managed to pull back a goal late in the 85th minute via Hemant Thakur.

Jan 29 matches
Lakshadweep vs Chandigarh at Main Stadium from 10 am
Manipur vs Jharkhand at Main Stadium from 2 pm
Punjab vs Himachal Pradesh at ESU Ground from 2 pm .