Eastern Pirates and Lawsohtun SC recorded comfortable victories on AR Football Cup

Shillong, March 10: Eastern Pirates SC and Lawsohtun SC recorded comfortable victories on the fourth day of the Assam Rifles Invitational Football Cup here on Friday, but Assam Rifles Laitkor and Umsning SC faced tougher challenges to progress.

Eastern Pirates cruised to a 3-0 pre-quarterfinal victory over Nongkseh SC at the Assam Rifles ground in Happy Valley in the morning, with goals coming from Victor Shadap (30th minute), Chesterfield Nongdhar (77th) and Kynsai Lhuit (82nd).

Lawsohtun’s quarterfinal victory over 7Wasa SC was even more comprehensive, with last year’s runners-up claiming a 5-0 triumph thanks to a hat-trick from Milancy Khongstia (24th, 41st, 67th) and a brace by JMK Raswai (71st, 82nd) at Mawlai Madan Heh.

In the other game in Happy Valley, the only thing to separate an eagerly fought contest between Umsning and their pre-quarterfinal opponents Maram FC was a penalty in the 19th minute, which was converted by the former’s Reson Malngiang.

The afternoon second quarterfinal fixture between Assam Rifles Laitkor and Lawmali SC in Mawlai was, however, arguably the most engaging of the day, with the youthful Lawmali squad taking an early lead before Assam Rifles managed came back to win the contest 2-1.

Lawmali claimed the lead through Russell Nongkynrih in only the third minute of play after a cross into the box ricocheted off an opposition defender and bounced up in the direction of the goalmouth. Although goalkeeper Chandra Singh was able to parry the ball away, it went straight to Nongkynrih, who headed it in.

Around the 20-minute mark a push from behind on an Assam Rifles player saw the referee signal a penalty kick, but the spot kick was brilliantly gathered by the Lawmali custodian, F Dkhar.

However, the jawans were able to equalise in the first half itself when Mani Chetry, the tournament’s lead scorer, squeezed a long ball past a defender and then guided it low past the goalie from a very tight angle in the 40th minute.

The action in the second half was end-to-end, with both sides battling for the lead. The two teams created several thrilling attacks, but neither could find the breakthrough. It looked like the match would be heading for a tiebreaker, but only a few moments before the referee would have blown the final whistle, tall defender Devender Singh, who had come up for a corner kick, smashed a high bounce ball into the back of the net.

It was a bitter blow for the Lawmali lads, who bravely fought through three matches in as many days, and their efforts on the pitch were widely applauded by the fans and their Assam Rifles opponents after the match.

In Saturday’s quarterfinals Eastern Pirates will face Mawlai SC at 9:00am followed by Smit SC versus Umsning at 1:00pm. Both matches will be played at Mawlai Madan Heh and entry is free.

 

What Next?

Recent Articles

Leave a Reply

Submit Comment

*

Where to buy Vidalista Professional 20 Mg (Tadalafil) tablet