18th Manipur State League ESU go top of Group A table with 6th straight win as NESU hold USA; SFC edge Utlou FC 2-1
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 18 : ESU, Wangkhei Palace Compound climbed atop Group A table of the 18th Manipur State League as they beat FC Raengdai 3-2 for the 6th win on the trot and close contenders USA were held to a 2-2 draw by NESU in a Khurai derby staged earlier in the day.
In the first Group A match, USA, who were on top of the table until this morning, enjoyed a narrow 1-0 first half lead courtesy of Soubam Loyangamba’s 2nd minute strike. USA doubled the advantage with Ashangbam Bhaskar finding the net in the 56th minute but NESU’s Sapam Ton set up the recovery path by scoring his first in the 63rd minute before netting the equaliser in the 80th minute.
With both the sides failing to find the winner, they had to share a point apiece.
In the second Group A match, Md Muhadish’s penalty made all the difference as ESU walked away 3-2 winners.
ESU, who had posted 5 of 5 wins but were trailing behind USA with inferior goal difference, enjoyed a 2-0 first half lead with M Prabin (43’) and Taj Khan (44’) scoring back to back towards the close of the opening half.
FC Raengai fought back and halved the deficit in the 51st minute with Thokchom Hitler finding the target but ESU regained the two-goal cushion as Md Muhadish cleanly converted a penalty in the 61st minute.
FC Raengdai mounted their way back into the game thanks to another goal in the 65th minute from Panmei Poujianlung, who subbed in for Renglensing Popa Danla at the restart. They, however, failed to sustain their momentum against the alerted ESU defence set up and eventually ESU extended their winning run to 6 games.
In a Group C match staged later in the day, SFC edged Utlou FC for their fourth win in 6 matches. Thingbaijam Tomshi (20’) and Naorem Roshan (23’) gave SFC early dominance before Khomdram Johnson pulled back a goal for Utlou FC in the 31st minute. SFC then held on to their lead in the remaining portion of the game while occasionally threatening the Utlou FC defence in their bid to swell their lead.
IMPHAL, Feb 18 : ESU, Wangkhei Palace Compound climbed atop Group A table of the 18th Manipur State League as they beat FC Raengdai 3-2 for the 6th win on the trot and close contenders USA were held to a 2-2 draw by NESU in a Khurai derby staged earlier in the day.
In the first Group A match, USA, who were on top of the table until this morning, enjoyed a narrow 1-0 first half lead courtesy of Soubam Loyangamba’s 2nd minute strike. USA doubled the advantage with Ashangbam Bhaskar finding the net in the 56th minute but NESU’s Sapam Ton set up the recovery path by scoring his first in the 63rd minute before netting the equaliser in the 80th minute.
With both the sides failing to find the winner, they had to share a point apiece.
In the second Group A match, Md Muhadish’s penalty made all the difference as ESU walked away 3-2 winners.
ESU, who had posted 5 of 5 wins but were trailing behind USA with inferior goal difference, enjoyed a 2-0 first half lead with M Prabin (43’) and Taj Khan (44’) scoring back to back towards the close of the opening half.
FC Raengai fought back and halved the deficit in the 51st minute with Thokchom Hitler finding the target but ESU regained the two-goal cushion as Md Muhadish cleanly converted a penalty in the 61st minute.
FC Raengdai mounted their way back into the game thanks to another goal in the 65th minute from Panmei Poujianlung, who subbed in for Renglensing Popa Danla at the restart. They, however, failed to sustain their momentum against the alerted ESU defence set up and eventually ESU extended their winning run to 6 games.
In a Group C match staged later in the day, SFC edged Utlou FC for their fourth win in 6 matches. Thingbaijam Tomshi (20’) and Naorem Roshan (23’) gave SFC early dominance before Khomdram Johnson pulled back a goal for Utlou FC in the 31st minute. SFC then held on to their lead in the remaining portion of the game while occasionally threatening the Utlou FC defence in their bid to swell their lead.