Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 20 2010:
Football Club Lajong (FC Lajong) of Shillong defeated one time champion Assam Rifles in a tie break in today's semi final match to enter the final of the 54th CC Meet 2010 organised by the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) under the sponsorship of Manipur State Aids Control Society (MACS) at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium, Imphal.
The first semi final match ended goalless in the normal time.
In the tie break, FC Lajong scored three goals while Assam Rifles could score only two goals.
Assistant coach of FC Lajong Birendra Thapa gave the credit of his team's success to his goalkeeper Lalthuwam Mawiya.
He said he is one of our best goalkeepers.
FC Lajong played the match with full vigour, but their goalkeeper faced some difficulties due to many uncoordinated moves of their defenders.
Birendra said that Assam Rifles is a good team and that FC Lajong had played many times with them.
He said the Assam Rifles team played today's match with great determination.
He further said that both TRAU and KSC who will play the second semi final tomorrow are good teams.
They had seen TRAU players in action but they have not seen KSC's match as yet.
Whichever team enters the final, it will be a good team.
Thapa said it is still to early to say whether James Giblee will play in the final.
Goalkeeper Lalthuwam said that this was the first time that he had saved three kicks out of five penalty shoot outs.
He said that he will give his best performance in the final even if they had to face a penalty shoot out.
Assam Rifles' team coach Santanu Basu said that both his team and FC Lajong played the match with equal skill and tactics.
Each team found it difficult to dominate the other.
Although they lost today's match, he said that it was a matter of luck and that his team tried its best to win the match.
Out of the three teams from outside the state, Assam Rifles and SSB have found their way out of the tournament after losing their respective matches.
FC Lajong the only remaining outside team will be playing the final match with tomorrow's winner which could be either defending champion TRAU or promising KSC.
The three goals of FC Lajong were scored by Rocky Lalrem Mawiya, C Lalaum Julla and Zenith Mashangva.
On the other hand the two goals of Assam Rifles were scored by Thoithoiba and Ajitkumar.
The Tiddim Road Athletics' Union (TRAU) and Kuki Sporting Club (KSC), Lambulane will fight for the final berth in the second semi final match tomorrow at 1.30 pm.