AIM, SSU enter semis of Manoranjan tourney
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 16 2024:
AIM, Khabam and SSU, Singjamei advanced to the semi-finals of the 14th Shaheed Manoranjan Singh Memorial State Level Open Football Tournament after edging out their respective opponents in penalty shootout at SAI Sports Complex on Friday.
In the first quarterfinal match, AIM defeated TRAU (Youth Team) 7-6 via the tie breaker as normal period ended in a 2-2 draw.
AIM took the lead as Kh Raj found the back of the TRAU net within two minutes play.
However, TRAU restored parity through Annaroy S' 12th minute strike.
Though AIM regained the lead when Sh Boy found the mark in the 30th minute and maintained the one goal advantage with only few minutes remains to seal the last four berth, Nimreiyo equalised for TRAU in the 86th minute to take the match to the shootout.
The tie-breaker saw AIM's Kh Jacky, Th Johnson, W Olenjit, I Deepak and Kh Raj converting their attempts into goal compared to TRAU quartet Sovami S, Kh Priyo, Annaroy S and Nimreiyo succeeding in outsmarting the AIM goal tender while M Jetlee missed the mark.
On the other hand, SSU emerged victorious over Classic FA (CFA) 5-4 also via penalty shootout in the second quarterfinal as scheduled time ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
The evenly contested match had CFA taking the lead via VS Thetkadhar Zimik (16th) but the joy barely lasted for a minute as SSU levelled through L Kishan Singh within few seconds of the restart.
SSU raced ahead when Y Zidan Singh struck the goal in the 24th minute and kept the slender lead till the lemon break.
However, CFA equalised through S Rober Singh in the 58th minute to take the game to penalty shootout before succumbing to pressure in the tie-breaker to eventually bow out of the competition.
The SSU scorers in the shootout were Suraj Singh Yumnam, S Amit Kumar Singh and Th Premjit whereas a Brajamani and S Samson managed to score for Classic FA.
On Saturday, YSWA, Utlou will take on SU, Sagolband in the third quarterfinal as DMRAO, Sekmai face ESU, Wangkhei for a place in the last four stage of the tournament.