Manipur crown T Ao soccer title

Mizoram beat galand to secure third spot

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 1: Manipur emerged champion in the T Ao soccer championship beating host Assam in a well contested fil by 4-3 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium here today. The champion team received cash award of Rs 7 lack while runners up Assam collected a purse of Rs 4 lack.

Heavy rain, just before the start of the game, made the ground very slippery but it didn't dampen the spirit of either sides. The first half of the game witnessed very good contest between  Assam and Manipur. Both the teams tried to domite against the opponent and created several scoring opportunities. It was Manipur who took lead in the game first when Imran Khan put the ball inside the net at the 22nd minutes of the game.  Assam retuned the goal very next minute and the it was scored by Jilendra Basumatari.

The second half too well contested but Manipur scored three consecutive goals 68, 70  and 85 minutes through And Kumar, Pritam Singh and Satish Khundran.which gave them unbeatable lead. Pritam later adjudged highest scorer (six goals) of the meet. Assam came back strongly during the last 5 minutes and scored twice but it was too late for the host . Maneswar Musahari reduced the deficit in the 88 minutes and Jilendra once again scored in the added time converting a spot  kick. Rahul Das of Assam adjudged as the best player of the tourment.

Earlier, Mizoram bagged the third place in the competition thrashing galand by 6-1 in the morning today. Mizoram, who were leading 2-1 in the first half, pumped in four goals in the second half. Lalfak Zuala scored twice while Lalnunmawia, Zico Zoren Sanga, Danglia and Laldanmawia were the other scorers for the winning team. galand reduced  one through Sakutenjan.