Imphal, March 26: Golden goal of Kanta propelled Manipur while Sanjiba Rongpi�s double goal smashed Assam into the final of�� 2nd Dr T Ao Doner football tournament at the main stadium of Khuman Lampak sports complex here today.

In the first semi-final, Manipur defeated Nagaland by a golden goal from Ksh Kanta who was among the victorious Santosh Trophy team held in 2002 in Imphal.

Assam defeated stalemate Sports Aithority of India (SAI) Red of Guwahati by 2-1 in the second semi-final.

The final will play on Sunday at the same venue at 1 pm.

Asiatic Mongoloid Educational Sports, Social and Cultural organization meanwhile appealed not to call any bandh/blockade or general strike on Sunday.

The match between hosts and last year�s runners-up Manipur and Nagaland was very keenly contested one.

Despite having fielded five players from the victorious Santosh trophy team, Manipur could not overpower Naga boys as they also have several experienced players, who have represented the state in various tournaments.

The first session of the match was seemed to have some advantage in the Nagaland side as there was lack of passing coordination in Manipur side.

Even though both side tried every effort to break the impasse none of them could penetrate the opponent�s danger zone easily to attempt goal.

Taking the advantage of good physique and height Nagaland boys possessed the ball.

However, they could not covert the opportunities into goal by the end of the session.

Hosts side seemed to be improved in the second session with the launching of several attacks to break the impasse.

In the 53rd minutes, Nagaland�s goalie Zuthungo Ngully made a fine save by pushing up the ball shot by W Ajit of Manipur.

Six minutes later I Nilakumar�s shot could not roll in the goalmouth of Nagaland.

The hard shot ball went just near the right post.

Both sides managed to improve their lineup through substitutions.

Nagaland�s Kethokhrietuo Vimero missed a beautiful hard shot in 80th minutes.

The ball went just above the bar.

The impasse could not break by the end of normal time which compelled to give them an extra time of 30 minutes with golden goal rule.

Both sides were under pressure in the extra time play.

In the 8th minutes, striker Ksh Kanta made a beautiful hard shot from left side near danger zone.

The ball hit in the left corner bar and slipped in the net to score the golden goal.

Manipur coach Ratan admitted that Manipur boys could not make a good show in the first session.

However, it was improved in the later session, he said.

Saying Manipur will play in 3-5-2 format in the final Ratan added it (Manipur) will try best in the final.

In the second semi-final, Assam defeated SAI (Red) Manipur by 2-1. SAI (Red) of Guwahati launched a series of attacks from the beginning which kept Assam defenders on bay.

Their (SAI-Red) attacks bore fruit in 28th minutes when Mathew Thangjom netted a ball crossed by Monikanta Brahma left side inside the penalty area.

The cross came following Mathew Thangjom pushed the ball from right side to Monikanta Brahma inside the penalty area itself.

(The passing sequence is referred as wall-pass).

Assam side tried every effort to equalize the goal.

Assam�s Sanjeeba Rongpi missed a hard shot in 29th minutes with the ball flown in just left corner of the goalie.

The tough defending line of Raju Konwar (captain) and Raju Hazarika of SAI (Red) posed a challenge to Assam strikers as they prevented the ball from penetrating the danger zones.

SAI (Red) on the other hand missed several opportunities to score goals.

The session ended with SAI (Red) leading by a solitary goal.

The second session began with Assam on more aggressive spirit to equalize the goal.

The equalizer came in 68th minutes when its diminutive striker Sanjiba Rongpi�s shot from the left wing (just beyond D-box) rolled under the two legs of SAI (Red) goalie Alistiar Borgoyary.

The ball rolled in while goalie failed to collect it.

The deciding goal was also came from Sanjiba Rongpi in the 74th minutes.

Rongpi gently made a beautiful shot after controlling the ball from a free kick by Diganta Baruah at the mid field.� SAI goalie Alistiar failed to collect the ball.

SAI-Red tried its strategy of play even substituting the goalie.

However, they could not find the equalizer by the end of the play.

Assam coach Ganesh Rai said he was not satisfied with the performance of his boys today.

�They (Assam players) took the match lightly in the first session as the rival was not a good team�, Rai said.

On the game plan for final, he said as Manipur is balanced in all fronts he would convene a meeting to discuss the strategies and chalk out the plans for Sunday final.

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