Noklak, Mon, Phek and Peren registered victories on Day 6 of the 25th Dr T Ao Trophy Inter-District Football Championship 2026, with Mon and Phek securing qualification for the knockout stage and Peren winning a decisive Group D encounter to book a quarterfinal berth.
Noklak defeated Kiphire 6–1, with Longkhoi scoring a hat-trick, while Mon cruised to a 4–0 win over Zunheboto to finish the Group A league stage with nine points from three matches. In Group D, Phek beat Niuland 4–2 to top the group, while Peren came from behind to defeat Chümoukedima 2–1.
Noklak thrash Kiphire 6–1
Noklak produced an emphatic attacking display to defeat Kiphire 6–1 in Match 17, with Longkhoi scoring three goals.
Nengpao opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Longkhoi doubled Noklak’s lead in the 20th. Kiphire’s goal came in the 38th minute through an own goal by Payio.
Longkhoi struck again in the 42nd and 64th minutes to complete his hat-trick. Muthiu added Noklak’s fourth goal in the 60th minute, while Thangsoi scored two minutes later to complete the 6–1 victory.
Kiphire also suffered setbacks involving Idalungbe in the 32nd minute and Manwang in first-half stoppage time.
The win gave Noklak three points from two matches, placing them third in Group A behind Mon and Zunheboto.
The win gave Noklak three points from two matches, placing them third in Group A behind Mon and Zunheboto and keeping their qualification hopes alive.
Mon beat Zunheboto 4–0 to qualify
Defending champions Mon secured a 4–0 win over Zunheboto to qualify for the knockout stage from Group A with a perfect record of nine points from three matches.
The fixture was delayed by more than 30 minutes amid reported issues involving the All India Football Federation’s Central Registration System (CRS). Zunheboto eventually took the field, but the match began in unusual circumstances, with Mon scoring twice without resistance.
READ | CRS implementation challenges surface at Dr T Ao Trophy
Nokwang opened the scoring in the first minute before Eshong added the second a minute later. Nokwang scored his second goal in first-half stoppage time at 35+2 minutes to give Mon a 3–0 lead.
David completed the scoring in the 60th minute.
Phek defeat Niuland 4–2 to top Group D
Phek overcame a second-half fightback from Niuland to claim a 4–2 win and finish as Group D leaders with nine points from three matches.
Shovelo opened the scoring in the 14th minute, and Eneibe extended Phek’s lead in the 28th to put the 2019 champions two goals ahead.
Niuland responded after the break, with Hekato reducing the deficit in the 55th minute before Toka equalised a minute later.
Phek regained the lead through Shovelo in the 67th minute, his second goal of the match. Sieketou then scored in stoppage time at 70+3 minutes to seal the win.
The result sent Phek into the knockout stage as group leaders, while Niuland, last year’s finalists, finished third with two points from three matches and were eliminated.
Peren stage comeback to beat Chümoukedima
Peren came from behind to defeat Chümoukedima 2–1, securing a quarterfinal berth from Group D after both teams entered the do-or-die fixture with one point each from two matches.
Chümoukedima took the lead in the 15th minute through Lunmingou, but Peren equalised six minutes later when Khiuwangbo found the net in the 21st minute.
The teams remained level until the 61st minute, when Lungpetsing scored the decisive goal to put Peren ahead for the first time.
Peren held on to their lead until the final whistle, completing the comeback and advancing to the quarterfinals.
