1st Dr L Bhagyachandra Memoriual Football Tournament : TRUGPU down SSU to lift champions trophy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 30 2014: In a keenly contested match, TRUGPU, Nambol downed SSU Singjamei by a margin of three goals to two to lift the champions tropphy of the 1st Bhagyachandra Memorial Football Tournament, played at THAU ground today.

Evenly matched, but S Herojit of TRUGPU did the star turn with his long and incisive thrown ins that ultimately proved to be the winning card.

TRUGPU shot into the lead as early as the 2nd minute of the match, when the ball went out of play and a throw in was awarded against SSU, Singjamei, dangerously deep inside the territory of the side from Singjamei.

The towering S Herojit took the throw and he managed to lob the ball right into the penalty box of SSU.

Kenneth Chiru of TRUGPU who was well positioned did well to read the flight of the ball and he outjumped the defenders of SSU to connect with the ball with his head and send it goal bound, catching the custodian of SSU by surprise.

Spurred by the early lead, TRUGPU started controlling the ball, dominating the mid field and launching deep, incisive attacks from either side of the flank.

Pressed hard, the defenders of SSU were stretched to their limits but they did well to stand their ground and deny the TRUGPU players any good look at the goal.

The relentless pressure on the defence of SSU finally paid off when the forward line of TRUGPU took the ball into the penalty box area of SSU.

Unable to tackle and dispossess the marauding forwards of TRUGPU, the defenders of SSU took the easy way out and kicked the ball out of play.

S Herojit was it again when he took the throw in in the 14th minute.

His long throw in found T Dhiren, who created enough space for himself to hoodwink a couple of SSU defenders and rustle the net in the 14th minute.

The two goals deficit however did the dampen the spirit of the SSU players and they started playing with a purpose.

This paid dividends when after a fine run down the flank, L Gogocha received the ball at the top of the penalty box.

Taking no chances, L Gogocha unleashed a powerful shot but defender Suresh Raina of TRUGPU in a desperate bid to stop the ball ended up handling the ball.

The referee did not hesitate in pointing to the dreaded spot and Imran Khan who took the penalty kick did well to keep his composure and send the custodian of TRUGPU the wrong way in the 16th minute.

Having reduced the deficit, SSU put more men in the attack to find the equaliser, with their players spread out all over the field.

The open and free flowing game of SSU yielded results in the 18th minute, when Shahid Farid received the ball at the midfield and released a long pass to find L Dewan near the top of the penalty box.

Neatly controlling the ball, L Dewan let loose a power packed shot that disturbed the net and bring his team back into the match.

The lemon break was taken with the two teams tied at two goals each.

After the lemon break, both the teams preferred to play it safe not really opening up.

However the opportunism of TRUGPU came into the fore in the (80 plus 2 minutes) when the SSU defenders kicked the ball out of play.

Once again S Herojit was at it again with the throw in.

A might and powerful throw in landed inside the penalty box of SSU and Arjun in his desperate bid to kick the ball to safety landed up scoring an own goal to gift the match and the title to TRUGPU.

Commissioner of CADA, H Imocha Singh attended the final match as the chief guest while Social Worker Huidrom Vikram SIngh and S Sanatomba, president of Imphal West District Football Association attended as the guest of honour and president respectively.

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