2nd JA Dist Men's Football Meet IYA set final date with YPO Sora
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 14, 2013: YPO Sora set a date for the final with IYA Wairi in the 2nd JA District Level Mens' Open Football Championship entering the final in contrasting styles today.

In the first semifinal match of the day, FSC Kakching Chumnang and YPO Sora were locked in a goalless draw during regulation time and a penalty shoot out had to be resorted to decide the match.

Aware of the striking power of each other, both sides started the match warily, not really going all out and instead concentrating on keeping their citadel intact.

It was however not all defensive play all the way as both sides matched each other with swift counter attacks from the flanks but neither team came close to scoring to seal the match.

Man to man the two teams were evenly matched with neither side giving an inch of space to the other.

With both teams unable to break the deadlock, penalty shoot out had to be ultimately resorted to decide the outcome of the match.

YPO Sora displayed better composure and without bending under pressure, scored all the five goals.

The five goals came from Lamad, Sahidur, Noor Safi, Ali Shia and Ali Khan.

For FSC Kakching, Indranath, Sarju, Kiran and Senton found the target but fell short by one goal as one of their penalty takers wilted under pressure to shoot wide.

In the second semi-final, IYA Wairi overcame a fighting DYA Elangkhangpokpi by 2 goals to nil.

From the first whistle, IYA Wairi made their intentions clear and even before the DYA players had settled down, Henba of IYA took possession of the ball near the top of the penalty box and faced no resistance in slotting it home in the 5th minute of the match.

The early goal galvanised the DYA players and they launched a series of attacks but to no avail as the defenders of IYA were up to it and kept the ball at bay.

The score line of 2-0 did not exactly reflect the competitiveness of the match as both teams were evenly matched, but it was the finishing skill of Henba which proved to be the decider After the lemon break, Henba was at it again when he beat a couple of defenders from the midfield, took the ball deep into their territory and disturbed the net of DYA in the 61st minute to seal the match.

The final match will be played on February 16 at 1 pm at the ground of Kakching Makha HS ground.

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