Dr. T Ao Trophy XXII Inter District Football Championship 2022
Noklak and Longleng settle for a goalless draw
Noklak 0 : 0 Longleng
The first game on Match Day 4 was played between Noklak and Longleng and much to the disappointment of the fans, the game ended with a dull goalless draw.
Longleng began with a 4-3-2-1 formation against a 4-3-3 Noklak where the mid fielders struggled to get to the final third of either sides.
Longleng had a better game but their formation got smaller and smaller while moving up field ended up with a crowded midfield, failing to spread out the playing field.
They also failed to find an open player on goal kicks as their wingers and strikers were so down on the field.
As for Noklak, striker Tangsoi missed out on a penalty in 28th minute as keeper Adok A Phom tapped out the ball.
Had the other team been not Longleng, the space left in the wide areas between the full-back and wingers could have been exposed and targeted easily. With all that being said, it was a tight game nonetheless and each team was left hanging for qualification to the next round.
Winkiong’s header equalizes for Peren against Shamator
Shitimong and Winkiong scores
Peren 1 : 1 Shamator
An impressive, exciting match with many nail-biting moments was played between equally stirring Shamator and Peren sides.
Peren displayed a decent football game against an impressive Shamator in the second match of the day. Peren looked organized, composed and steady, and made some beautiful passes making the fans ball out their eyes.
However, against them was an equally strong team of Shamator with great defending and deadly counter attacks.
Just three minutes into the game, a wonderful header by Shitimong of Shamator scored the opening goal from a free kick taken by Imkongnungsang.
However, Peren with Kawijibo Newmai coming on into the game in the second half, continued pressing the back harder.
In the 42nd minute, goalkeeper T. TosoYimchunger of Shamator made a brilliant save followed by a tremendous tackle by C. Yimtokiu Chang in the 45th minute.
But things finally turned around for Peren when Winkiong found the equalizer of the match with a brilliant header from a corner kick in the 55th minute.
While Shamator with their long-range ball forward and their fast-paced game made some deadly counters, they failed to make the most out of it.
Spectacular Tseminyu overwhelm an under performing Mokokchung
Tseminyu 3: 0 Mokokchung
Mokokchung messed up big time against a spectacular Tseminyu who were just better in everything football.
As expected, Mokokchung failed to learn from their loss against Kohima. They did not have a bad game today – they once again failed to convert chances into results. The team lacked talent, in other words. Mokokchung continued to sorely miss a sharp playmaker and a genuine striker to cut through the mid set up by Nyithong Magh and Sinlo Kent.
Tseminyu, on the other hand, were steady, composed and comfortable in their 4-5-1 as Resü-Semp-Kath-Kemp made impressive attacks at the back four of Mokokchung.
Five minutes into the game, a crafty Vekhrüto Resü stunningly netted the ball as Mokokchung defense failed to mark him inside the d-box.
Tseminyu continuously pressed on and threatened the home team as Tongpangnungshi of Mokokchung made some decent tackles, but he was not enough when the likes of Vekhruto and Kemp were leaping forward in tandem with speed and precision.
The defense weakened more with Tseminyu up with one goal and taking this advantage, Vekhrüto Resü, after endless in and out passes inside the d-box, found the back of the net making it 2-0 in just the 14th minute.
The next huge blunder came from goalie Mulong while trying to clear a ball from Kemp’s boots in the 30th minute.
Mokokchung continued to make massive blunders and wasted many opportunities as they struggled with their finishes. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Kath of Tseminyu continued to maintain his impressive clean sheet.
Mokokchung in the second half came back as a better side with Bendangsunep and Temjenmeren coming on as they dropped the idea of carrying the ball from the flanks and focused more on building up from the back and through the mid. However, that still did not sort out the problem for the men in blues. The home team conceded 3 goals and scored nil. They simply were below par on the day and limped off the pitch – and off the championship.
Zunheboto strived hard but failed to stop the titan Kohima
Peseyie and Gwirie scores a brace each; Yhome add one
Kohima 5 : 0 Zunheboto
The last match of the day was played between Kohima and Zunheboto where Zunheboto lost to a superior Kohima by 5 big goals.
However, what stole the people’s heart was, Zunheboto fought till the last minute showing true sportsmanship and had a decent game despite failing to convert their chances into goals. They kept pressing the Kohima defense till the last minute in this ‘all or nothing’ game of theirs.
Zunheboto started sharply with their offensive strategy where the game heavily relied on the midfielders to allow many playmakers to play together to support the two strikers.
With defense only guarded by a single defensive-minded midfielder, the fullbacks pressed up the field, which left the Zunheboto defense vulnerable as their forwards failed to make the run as needed by the game.
Mughahuto who played as the attacking mid had a decent game with good support from Yekivi but the duo was not enough for a well-composed Kohima.
The Kohima team countered this strategy by heavily overloading the flanks, and pushed their forwards play in the hole forcing one of the other midfielders to drop down deep and help the defensive mid and thus diminished the attacking power of Zunheboto.
In the 22nd minute, Gwirie broke the deadlock through a stunning goal followed by another goal by Peseyie in the 28th minute.
By now, Kohima had the game in their kitty and exploited the disadvantaged area of Zunheboto. Thus, more free goals were seen in the form of a header by Peseyie in the 41st minute and in the 43rd minute, Gwirie secured his brace.
The last goal of the game ended with Yhome’s header in the 54th minute.
