Shaheed Manoranjan Memorial Football: UPSA beat WYFC 7-6 on penalties to complete last four line up

By Our Sports Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 4 : UPSA, Pukhao made themselves through to the last four round of the 10th Shaheed Manoranjan Memorial CRPF Football Tournament with a 7-6 win over WYFC, Wangjing via penalty shoot-out after 3-3 stalemate during normal time at SAI Sports Complex, Takyel today.
It was a keenly contested match and UPSA had to lose lead twice before finishing well in the shoot-out to keep their title hopes very alive.
Both WYFC and UPSA made cautious starts and with neither side able to capitalise on their chances the first half almost ended goalless but a stoppage time effort proved to be a boon for the Pukhao side as N Raju made the effort count to make it 1-0 till halfway.
WYFC made their way into the game with Y Suraj netting the equaliser in the 56th minute but UPSA surged ahead in no time dominating the possession and it was Bipin who helped the team broke the deadlock in the 74th minute before Sidarth hit the team's third in the 80th minute to make it 3-1. However hard-working WYFC reduced the gap through N Leingakpa two minutes latter and were controlling the ball with a firm determination to draw level which they did one minute from time through RK Sushil, denying UPSA the clean win.
But N Leingakpa, RK Sushil and M Malemnganba could find the target for unlucky WYFC in the shoot-out as Sidarth, N Raju, S Michael and L Hellim scored to ensure UPSA a 7-6 victory.
Semi-finals on March 9
i) UPSA vs YPHU (match starts at 11 am)
ii) Muvanlai Athletics vs NISA (match starts at 2 pm)