Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 25 2010:
Manipur crushed Sikkim 8-0 to top Group A and storm into the semifinals of the North east Dr T Ao Memorial Football Tournament along with group runners-up Mizoram, who overcame Tripura by the odd goal in three.
Having drawn the group opener against Mizoram at 2-2 and blanking Tripura by a brace, the host State need to win its last group outing by a comprehensive margin which was eventually achieved.
Even though Manipur and Mizoram culled seven points each the former topped the group on goal difference.
After L Nabachandra opened the score in the 21st minute, Lunminlal Khongsai took centre-stage providing half the goals for the hosts.
Lunminlal completed his hattrick with goals in the 69th, 72nd and 77th minutes before rounding off the comfortable victory with his fourth three minutes from end of normal time.
S Manimohan (44th), I Nilakumar (51st) and L Gouro (78th) were the other goal scorers for Manipur.
In the Mizoram versus Tripura clash, the former raced to a 2-0 lead with Lalhmangaiha (65th) and Ms Tluanga (68th) finding the target before a late surge saw Tripura pull back one as Jagan Nath Jamatia converted an 81st minute penalty.