Nika’s last minute goal sends Shamator to Quarters
Shamator 1: 0 Noklak
In a crucial game for both the teams to qualify for quarters, Shamator started with an emotional message by wearing black armbands to show solidarity to the victims of Oting and to show respect to Lt. Toshi Wutong, MLA and Advisor, IPR, VG and SCERT, Govt. of Nagaland, who was elected from 58 AC of Shamator District.
The game saw a wide use of long balls but failed to display a continuity and smooth passes. Nika’s goal brought victory to the Shamator team at the 70th+5 minute by converting a wonderful assist from their left winger, Shitimong, who made an excellent run on the flank.
Noklak’s Tongsoi, Lamsong and Taka tried their best to break through Shamator’s defense but couldn’t convert it into a result making them miss a deft playmaker and a runner.
The win put Shamator into the quarters against Tseminyu while Noklak concluded their journey without scoring a single goal.
Peren register easy win against Longleng
Peren 3: 0 Longleng
As Longleng continued with their goalless campaign till their last game of the tournament, Peren had a fabulous game, completely dominating the match in possession, control and goals.
A couple of minutes into the game, Winamtho Ringdi scored the opening goal which was soon followed by a header from Zumzum Punyii in the 17th minute from a free kick which set the tone of the game. This was then followed by another goal by Ilungrai in the 59th minute.
Peren, in the second half, however, lost their focus at times which made Longleng find openings and got behind the back line, pressing Peren high.
Longleng displayed some decent football, especially in the second half as they efficiently exploited spaces between full back and center backs of Peren and slowed down the opponent with a compact defensive block.
However, they could not convert it into results as they wasted many opportunities and ended up hitting the crossbars most of the time and did not end their goalless streak till their last game.
This makes Peren qualify for the Quarter without facing a threat from any of the teams in their group.
Majestic Tseminyu stun titans Kohima for a draw
Kohima 3: 3 Tseminyu
One of the most exciting matches of the championship was played between the leaders of Group D, Tseminyu and Kohima where Tseminyu stunned the titans this time with the greatest comeback witnessed in this tournament so far.
The game, as expected, displayed some master class counters from Kohima with Yhome and Tsira having an absolutely terrific game today.
2 minutes into the game, Yhome found the back of the net after a pass that got deflected landed on his boot.
However, it did not take long for Lethokai to get the ball in by a side-flick from a corner kick in the 11th minute, making it 1-1.
But Kohima knows how to slice through a defense. From Kevisanyu Tsira in the center to Yhome to Peseyie to goal and the game was up 2-1 in the 16th minute.
Ruthless Kohima is a team that will punish any opponent when the opponents slip up in their defense. And that’s exactly what Tseminyu did. A missed pass landed on the foot of Tsira, who was playing an absolutely beautiful game to Yhome and then back to Tsira and then, goal! Kohima was now 3-1 up.
Tsira as the playmaker gave one of the finest moments in the game creating many chances for Yhome and Peseyie.
For once, it looked like Tseminyu would face their first defeat. However, Tseminyu had better plans for the 2nd half.
With Calvin Kent coming in for Vekhrüto Resü, Tseminyu was back in the game as he struck a goal in the 43rd minute making it 3-2.
From there on, Tseminyu was unstoppable, completely dominating the ball possession and the final third. The Kohima backs were pressed relentlessly with Kemp stroking an offside goal and GK Ruokuo needing some breather.
But that disappointment did not last long as Kemp scored the equalizer in the 55th minute, making his goal scoring tally 7 in total in three games.
The game finally ended with 3-3 as both qualified to the quarter with Tseminyu as the group leader.
Mokokchung beat Zunheboto in the last game for both
Mokokchung 4: 2 Zunheboto
In what can be called a consolation match after the disastrous results in their last two games, Mokokchung and Zunheboto finally played out their final match for the championship.
Zunheboto, in the first half, had more control over the ball with their 4-4-2 strategy where their half back and mid had an excellent game allowing their center forward, Inito, to score their first goal of the tournament in the 16th minute.
Mokokchung began with a 4-2-2-2 and had a difficult time taking the ball away from the strong mid put up by Zunheboto, but finally broke through the mid and scored their first goal of the tournament by Imnatoshi at the 33rd minute.
This was soon followed by Osen in the 45th minute as the Zunheboto defense began to shamble. Zunheboto, having an offensive strategy with sharp forwards had always been led down by their defense since their first game. The same happened in this game as well.
Although Pitoho was quick to bring Zunheboto back into the game in the 60th minute, Mokokchung’s two wingers, Osen and Lolenyuba along with their strikers Temjenmeren and Imnatoshi had a decent game against the poor Zunheboto defense in the second half.
Temjenmeren scored the 3rd goal for Mokokchung in the 63rd minute followed by Sentisang in the 66th minute making the final result 4-2.
The most memorable moment of this game was the last minute substitution of Inito by the coach-cum-player, Kivilu who got to play for less than a minute but it was definitely heartwarming.
However, both teams were eliminated as Tseminyu and Kohima marched on to quarter finals undefeated.