51st Sir Churachand Football

New CC Meet champ imminent:

Imphal, Dec 7: The 51st Sir Churachand Singh KCSI CBE Memorial Football tournament is certain to herald a new champion as AMOFA, Moirang, take on NISA, Thangmeiband, in the final on December 9 (Sunday) at 1 pm at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium.

Neither AMOFA nor NISA have won the competition though the latter had reached the final twice.

In the second semi-final on Friday, AMOFA upset the previous edition's champion SSU, Singjamei, by the odd goal in three but the score line in no way reflect the Moirang side's dominance who could have won by a bigger margin had the forwards converted chances that came their way.

While the AMOFA mid-fielders worked like a well-oiled machine and constantly fed the frontline players with defence splitting passes, SSU seldom showed any sign of a champion side with players lacking energy compared to enthusiastic approach of their opponents.

Inspite of territorial advantage, AMOFA managed to open its score account late in the first half when Stephen Hmar and L Ratan swiftly exchanged passes near the top of the SSU penalty zone.

Ratan swerved around a rival defender to put the ball into the crowded SSU goal area from near the touchline and found Stephen who blasted home from close range past a hapless SSU custodian in the first half added period.

The goal spurred the Moirang side as they came out from the break with renewed vigour and stormed the SSU goal consequently resulting in Th Joychandra scoring his seventh goal of the tournament of a Stephen Hmar essay in the 56th.Even though AMOFA sustained its pressure against the opponents and seem to increase the score lack of finishing touch at vital moment rendered the mid-fielders' hard work to nought.

At the fag end of the match SSU did foray into the Moirang goal but found the AMOFA custodian a hard nut to crack.

The SSU consolation goal eventually came two minutes into added period when the ball crossed the AMOFA goal-line from a goalmouth scramble with N Jimmy having the final touch.

Meanwhile, the tournament organiser AMFA has fixed ticket rate for the summit clash at Rs 100 for the VIP gallery and Rs 20 for ordinary stand with advance booking counter to be opened at Mapal Kangjeibung from tomorrow morning onwards.

Source: The Sangai Express

Another Story:

51st Sir Churachand Football

AMOFA in CC Meet semi-final:

Imphal, Dec 5: AMOFA, Moirang, grabbed the last semi-final berth of the 51st CC Meet Football tournament after a convincing 3-1 victory over Assam's Green Valley at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium on Wednesday while USA, Khurai, defeated City Club, Heirok, 2-1 in an inconsequential quarter-final league round tie.

In semi-final matches, NISA, Thangmeiband, will take on MPSC on Thursday at 1.30 pm while the Moirang side will face SSU, Singjamei on December 7 (Friday) at the same time.

Having pipped NEROCA, Laipham Khunou, by a solitary goal earlier in the competition, a draw would have cleared AMOFA's path to the last four stage but the Moirang side began the match against Green Valley on a positive note with several inroads early in the game despite the opening goal coming late in the first half.

A Stephen Hmar pass resulted in Th Joychandra striking home in the 38th minute before the scorer (Joychandra) increased the lead to 2-0 tapping in a sloppy clearance from the Green Valley custodian in the 48th.

Stephen Hmar put the score line to an unassailable 3-0 in the 63rd minute while Apurva Phukan found the invited team's consolation goal six minutes later.

Green Valley had also suffered 4-2 loss against NEROCA.

S Ginlemlal Guite of AMOFA and Apurva Phukan of Green Valley were booked in the match for unsporting conduct.

In the USA versus City Club match, the former's RK Adarsh broke the goalless first half stalemate with a 50th minute strike while S Surchand doubled the lead two minutes later.

W Daniel was the architect in both the USA scores.

N Jasobanta bridged the score deficit for the Heirok side.

Source: The Sangai Express