Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 01:
Host TRAU, Tiddim Road saved the ignominy of an early exit from the ongoing 3rd Sarajeevan Tiddim Trophy invitation football tournament with a 2-1 victory over NACO, Nambul Mapal at Khuman Lampak Main stadium today.
TRAU's hard earned win completes semi final line-up for the second highest cash prize football competition in the State along with SSU, NEROCA and ESU.
NACO and YWC, Thambalkhong are the other teams to bow out from the league phase of the tournament.
Playing in the must-win game both NACO and TRAU started on a cautious note with most moves confined to the centre till the former conceded a penalty in the 42nd minute when H Maheshkumar handled the ball inside the restricted zone.
Th Sanker made no mistake from the spot to provide the breakthrough.
The change of ends saw a determined NACO laying siege at the opponent goal area and nearly levelling the score had Lempa M's angled drive off a loose ball not hit the TRAU post five minutes into play.
The hosts team made their opponent pay dearly for the miss as first goal scorer Sanker turned provider with M Romi giving the giving touch to double the TRAU score in the 55th minute.
Inspite of Seijalan managing to narrow the goal deficit in the 67th TRAU players sensing victory guarded their fort to keep NACO strikers at a safe distance which they eventually accomplished with flair.