12th Manipur State League : KLASA continue the lead table with win over DM Rao
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 06 2017: At the end of the 7th round (SU and NACO still have one more match to play), KLASA continue to sit pretty on top of the League table with a hard fought win over DM Rao today in the ongoing 12th Manipur State League at Mapal Kangjeibung .

Equally matched, the game got off to an entertaining start with both teams testing each other with some quick moves down the flank and trying to control the midfield .

With deft passing, the two teams were on the look out for any opening that came their way but the defence line of either team stood firm and did not give any space to move around freely .

KLASA however had better ball possession and better understanding among the players at times stretching the defence line of DM Rao wide .

The break through for KLASA came mid way into the first half of the match when the ball was taken to the far side of the right flank .

L Sundar Singh of KLASA who manned the right flank perfectly got off to a fast run keeping the ball well under control .

After taking the ball far down the right corner, he did well in unleashing a well measured cross to the penalty box of DM Rao .

M Aboy Sharma who had positioned himself well did well in rising above the defenders of DM Rao and connecting with the ball to head in a fine goal in the 31st minute of the first half .

Lemon break was taken with KLASA leading by a slender margin of one goal to nil .

After the breather, DM Rao put in more men in the attack and tried to break through the defence line of KLASA in their bid to find the equaliser and come back into the match .

The defence line of KLASA however stood firm and managed to neutralise all the offensives of DM Road .

At the fag end of the match, DM Rao managed to break through and launched a potentially dangerous offensive .

In their desperate bid to stop the rampaging forwards of DM Rao, a defender of KLASA physically pulled back a player of DM Rao prompting the referee to point to the dreaded spot .

Luck however was on the side of KLASA and Y Shushil Kumar of DM Rao who took the kick, allowed his nerve to get the better of him and shot wide gifting the match to KLASA .

NEROCA down Muvanlai Athletics 2-0 : NEROCA lived up to its reputation of a big name and downed a fighting Muvanlai Athletics 2-0 in the second match of the day exhibiting good air control .

Putting to good use their height advantage, NEROCA players relied on long passes and controlled the high balls .

Muvanlai Athletics on the other hand ran hard all over the field and did not give any space to the NEROCA players with the first half ending with no goals scored .

After the lemon break, NEROCA went on the offensive and began to raid the citadel of Muvanlai Athletics with some good passes and aerial attacks .

In the 58th minute of the match, NEROCA FC won a flag kick and instead of a long ball opted for a short tap .

After taking the ball closer to the penalty box, NEROCA let go a high ball near the goal mouth of Muvanlai where a lurking Ch Shushil Kumar rose splendidly to connect with the ball and head it home .

NEROCA were at it again in the 83rd minute when Y Gopi took full advantage of a throw in, controlled the ball and found the target.

With today’s win NEROCA are now standing at the second spot behind KLASA with 16 points.

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