Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 07:
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 at 1 pm at the Khuman lampak main Stadium.
Neither AMOFA nor NISA had won the competition though the latter had reached the final twice.
In the second semi final today, AMOFA upset the previous edition's champion SSU, Singjamei by the odd goal in three but the scoreline 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.