Shaheed Manoranjan Memorial Football ESU edge out Classic FA on penalties, to meet SSU in final

By Our Sports Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 23 : Eastern Sporting Union (ESU), Wangkhei beat Classic FA 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at SAI ground, Takyel to set up title clash of the 11th Shaheed Manoranjan Singh Memorial CRPF Football Tournament with SSU, Singjamei. The final match will take place on February 27 at 1.30 pm.
With the final berth in sight, both ESU and Classic FA put up a good fight and were evenly matched in terms of possession and scoring chances.
ESU were able to take a slender 1-0 lead till the break through an additional time goal by P Naoba after the two sides saw their attempts go in vain.
Joel Haokip however pulled level for Classic FA five minutes into the second half and restored order of the entertaining semi-final match.
Both the teams did well to break the stalemate in the remainder of the game but defence lines on both the ends stood firm to deny any changes in the scoreline till the end of the normal time.
Eventually, the match was decided via kicks from the penalty mark wherein the Wangkhei side put in four against Classic FA's two and confirmed their final berth.
It were P Naoba, P Govin, A Brajamani and Heman, who made their efforts count for ESU while Worneilen Kom and Samson Keishing were the only players who could find the target for Classic FA in the shoot-out.
 Classic FA will now play WAFA, Wangoi for the third place title on February 25.