Mon’s quest for their maiden Dr T Ao Trophy continues, and they are now just one match away from lifting the coveted trophy.
In the first semifinal match of the tournament played on Wednesday, Mon produced a commanding performance defeating Mokokchung 3–0 to secure a place in the grand finale scheduled for August 15.
The opening half was tense, with both teams cautiously probing for weaknesses. However, with superior ball possession and more shots on goal, Mon always looked likely to come out on top. They eventually broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute when I-League player Laiwang capitalized on a defensive lapse and slotted a low ball past goalkeeper Imtisashi into the far post. K. Arap doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time by heading the ball into an empty net after Imtisashi’s attempt to stop Mon captain Sanyem’s long, curving shot from the left flank bounced off the bar.
Mokokchung pressed forward in the second half, hoping to claw their way back, but their efforts were repeatedly repelled by Mon’s disciplined defense. The final blow came in the 81st minute when Amun struck from the edge of the box to make it 3–0.
Mon’s combination of precise finishing and solid defending allowed them to stride confidently into the final, while Mokokchung’s impressive tournament run came to an end as the better team on the day deservingly claimed victory.
