51st Sir Churachand Football

NISA in CC Meet semi-finals; MPSC rout NP:

Imphal, Dec 2: NISA (Thangmeiband) became the first team to advance into the semi -finals of the 51st Sir Churachand Singh KCSI CBE Memorial Football Tournament after scripting a hard fought 3-2 victory over ESU (Wangkhei) at Mapal Kangjeibung on Sunday.

While the Thangmeiband side produced their best performance so far in the prestigious competition after a lapse of nearly 13 years, MPSC won a battle between two police sides when they sent home Nagaland Police with a 4-0 thrashing in another quarter-final league tie this afternoon.

NISA's previous record was a final entry in 1994. NISA's remarkable resurgence in the current edition of the tournament nearly met its nemesis in the form of the Wangkhei side who literally fought till the end before O Pritam triggered joyous scenes with a 90th minute winner off a Ch Dhanakumar pass.

ESU, who had also lost the first match by a solitary in the double leg competition between the two, showed glimpses of its champion stuff when Th Pravinkumar scored four minutes into the game.

The lead, however, lasted only three minutes as Charan Rai restored parity and struck his and NISA's second in the 10th minute.

Sensing victory, NISA supporters had even begun to celebrate but were brought down to earth with a thud after Reagan Kom equalised for ESU three minutes from end of normal time before Pritam sounded the former finalists' arrival to the top level of football competition.

The otherwise exciting contest was marred by five bookings including three ESU players.

While the NISA versus ESU clash had all the elements of an edge of the seat thriller, MPSC was clearly the dominant side in the day's first match against Nagaland Police even though the breakthrough came near the half-time whistle.

For MPSC, veteran striker I Nillakumar scored thrice (43rd, 56th, 86th) in addition to setting up Ksh Kanta for the team's third in the 73rd. MPSC will play YWC, Thambalkhong to decide who advance into the semi-final from Group P.

YWC has three points as it had defeated NP 2-0.

Source: The Sangai Express

Sir Churachand Football

MPSC, AMOFA advance into 51st CC Meet quarter-finals:

Imphal, Nov 28: MPSC defeated Lenlai Club, Churachandpur 3-1 as AMOFA, Moirang overwhelmed KFC, Kakching 4-1 this afternoon to top their respective groups and advance into the quarter-finals of the 51st Sir Churachand Singh Football Tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung here.

In the last Group E match, AMOFA struck late in the first half to open the account when Daniel L Hmar tapped home in the 40th minute.

The Moirang side pumped in three more goals after the change of ends through Stephen Hmar (47th) and Joychandra's brace (69th, 75th) before Alpha Tongsin netted the KFC consolation goal in the injury time.

AMOFA had defeated the group's third team DM Rao, Sekmai 2-0 with KFC edging past the Sekmai side 2-1 in their earlier matches.

In the MPSC versus Lenlai Club match later in the day, Ch Ojit took the lead for the police side with a 49th minute opener before his second in the match coming 77 minutes into play after N Maimu Meitei had converted a penalty award in the 72nd minute to extend the lead.

Lalminthang headed in Lenlai's only goal of the match five minutes from time.

MPSC topped Group F by virtue of its 3-1 win over PYC, Phoudel earlier in the competition.

PYC and Lenlai had played out a 1-1 draw.

The group stage will conclude tomorrow (Thursday) with USA taking on YAC at 12.05 pm and NEROCA to face off against KRYPSA at 1.45 pm.

Source: The Sangai Express