FC Raengdai, AIM advance to quarterfinals in Shaheed Manoranjan Memorial Football Tourney

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 9 : FC Raengdai, Noney and AIM, Khabam secured their opening round victories to advance into the quarterfinals of the 16th Shaheed Manoranjan Singh Memorial CRPF Football Tournament 2025-26 being conducted by 86th Bn CRPF in association with AMFA at SAI Sports Complex, Takyel.
In the first match of the day and tourney’s third, AIM edged out TRUGPU, Nambol by 2-1 goals in a closely fought match and sealed their quarterfinal ticket.
Thangjam Lenin found the breakthrough for AIM in the 16th minute. The lead was cancelled in the 33rd minute as Chongtham Sanatomba scored the equaliser.
The parity however ended in the 58th minute with Nongthombam Nenaldo finding the target for AIM in the 58th minute. AIM then held on to their lead to seal the next round berth.
Later in the day, FC Raengdai fought back from two goals down to seal a 4-2 win over MIUFC, Mayang Imphal and booked their place in the quarterfinals.
MIUFC pressed hard early in the game and went ahead as FC Raengdai’s Panmei Poujianlung conceded an own goal in the 24th minute before W Tejkumar doubled the advantage in the 31st minute.
FC Raengdai however responded with a never say die attitude and halved the deficit in the 32nd minute before Phairembam Rostam closed out the gap in the 40th minute with a tidy finish.
To everyone’s surprise, FC Raengdai overturned the lead  three minutes into the added time of the first half with Laishram Premjit converting a penalty. Gailalung Gonmei then netted the decisive goal in the 48th minute before they concentrated more in defending their hard earned lead in the remainder of the game.
NMFA, Salam will play Utlou FC in the next match tomorrow from 11 am before TRAU, Kwakeithel take on PATHAP FC, Lilong from 2 pm.