ESU, SDC advance to 65th CC Meet quarterfinals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 13 2026: Eastern Sporting Union (ESU), Wangkhei Palace Compound and Social Development Club (SDC), Samurou are through to the quarterfinals of the Babina Group 65th Sir Churachand Singh KCSI, CBE Memorial Football Tournament 2025-26 .

ESU made it to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 thumping of Rising Athletic Union (RAU), Lairikyengbam Leikai this afternoon at Mapal Kangjeibung.

Naorem Kaba Singh earned ESU a 1-0 first-half lead with an 18th-minute strike in this slightly one-sided match before Taj Khan netted the decisive goal in the 83rd minute.

With the win, ESU set up a quarterfinal date with AIM, Khabam.

Later in the 6th pre-quarterfinal match, SDC and Sagolband United (SU) played out a gruelling 3-3 draw before SDC won 5-3 on penalties.

Sagolband United started brightly and raced to a 2-0 lead as Themchui RS opened the scoring in the 4th minute and Chaphamayum Ratanbi doubled the lead after 11 minutes.

SDC, however, fought back and halved the deficit with Naorem Ronaldo finding the net in the 13th minute, before coming to level terms in the 34th minute when Takhellambam Thoi of Sagolband United fumbled to concede an own goal.

After settling the first period at 2-2, SDC turned things around with Shandham Abinash scoring in the 59th minute.

Sagolband United responded with a barrage of attempts and eventually restored parity, with Themchui RS finding the target yet again in the 83rd minute.

With the score locked at 3-3 at the end of regulation time, the game was decided via a penalty shoot-out.

Naorem Lanchenba, Ningthoujam Moramba, Aimson Athokpam, Aheibam Wangamba, and Shandham Abinash made no mistake to earn SDC a 5-3 shoot-out win.

Only Salam Rahul, Chaphamayum Ratanbi, and Abujam Sanathoi found the target for the Sagolband side in the shoot-out.

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