Imphal, March 23: Runners-up of the inaugural edition, Manipur were pushed hard by Tripura while Sports Authority of India (SAI) Red, Guwahati dragged Meghalaya out from the contest of last four berth of ongoing 2nd edition of Dr T Ao Doner football tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung today.

Even though three matches are due to play, four semi-finalists have been identified with today's matches.

Assam (9 points from three wins) and Nagaland (7 points from two win and one draw) from Group A and Manipur (12 points from 4 win) and SAI (Red), Guwahati (7 points from 2 win and 1 draw) from Group B have booked the last four berths.

In the first match today, hosts Manipur defeated Tripura 3-2, crushing the later's chance for booking the last four berths.

Tripura will their last match against Arunachal Pradesh on March 25.If Tripura have won today's match against Manipur and win against AP then it will garner a total of 7 points to book the last four berths.

As the match against Manipur was a must-win match, Tripura put their strikers on a very aggressive spirit from the word go.

In the 13th minute, Manipur got a penalty kick following Manoj Ekka fault.

But the ball kicked by S Manglemjao was beautifully saved by Tripura goalie Kanai Yadav.

After launching several attacks and counter-attacks Tripura celebrated their first goal in the 23rd minute.

Sabya Sachi Ghosh beautifully netted a ball from a corner kick by Sandip Das.

Two minutes later, Satyajit Debroy scored their second goal through a pass from Litan Mazumdar.

Manipur's reducer came in 40th minute when I Nilakumar headed the ball through the goalmouth.

The ball was passed by Th Chandramohon's heading through a corner kick from S Manglemjao.

The scoreboard remained unchanged by the end of first session with Tripura leading Manipur by 2-1.In the 54th minute, Bany Chiru equalized for Manipur through a wonderful heading.

M Lenpa supplied the ball through a long shot from M Nepolean.

The last goal for Manipur came from Bany Chiru again in 68th minute.

He netted the ball slipped from the goalie.

I Nilakumar shot the slipped ball through a heading from Bany Chiru.

The netted ball fell outside (at the back-side) the net.

Referee award the ball as goal saying it penetrated through the net and fell outside the net as the kick was shot from very close range.

The players of Tripura argued the decision of the referee saying that the ball was fallen from above the bar after goalie punches it up.

Having felt discontentment at the decision Tripura tried every effort to equalize the goal but bore no fruits by the end of the match.

Tripura coach Milton Ghosh while talking to E-Pao! said "The deciding goal was completely outside the goal post" adding that the decision demoralize his player which is one of the reason why the players could not do better in the remaining 20 minutes.

He also complained that the equalizer goal for Manipur came from a ball a long shot from (M Nepolean) outside.

He also charged that the referee demolished the 'crucial match' for Tripura.

The play was conducted by Md Nashirudin Ahmed (Assam) as referee.

In the second ground, SAI (Red), Guwahati defeated former semi-finalists Meghalya by a solitary goal.

If Meghalaya have won or drawn the match then they would have qualified for the semi-final from Group B while the match was must-win play for SAI (Red) to qualify for the same.

Both teams, from the word go, launched several attacks and counter attacks.

However they could break the impasse by the end of first session even though they got few opportunities to score.

The SAI (Red) missed one goal in 38th minute when a hard shot from Durga Boro hit onto the bar.

In the second session too, both sides tried every effort to break the impasse.

In 68th minute, a long shot from Aibor Warlarpih of SAI (Red) was slipped from the hands of Meghalaya goalie Larry Diengdoh just near the left goalpost.

The breakthrough came in favour of SAI (Red) in 73rd minute when Thomson Langthasa gently netted the ball deflected from Meghalaya defender Building Pungrope in the goal area.

The ball was headed by Dhananjoy Boro through a corner kick from Mathew Thanjom.

Even as the Meghalaya side tried to equalize the goal it bore no fruits by the end of the match.

Speaking to E-Pao! SAI (Red) coach D.N Acharya said the "The match was a calculated one for his team as it was do or die situation".

The discontentment felt by SAI (Red) on their lost against Manipur 3-0 in the first outing was a bit relieved with today's win, he said.

Saying today's victory will boost the morale of the player in the semi-final match.

Acharya added that they will plan for the semi-final according to the opponent team they would meet.

If Assam win or draw with Nagaland in the last league round of the group A then it (SAI, Red) will clash in the semi-final match.

Remaining matches (league round): March 24: Sikkim vs SAI (Blue; Assam vs Nagaland ) - Group A.

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