Phek produced one of their most commanding performances of the Dr T Ao Trophy 2025, dismantling Group C leaders Mokokchung 3-0 in Match 27 on August 9. Yet, the emphatic win was tinged with frustration, as Phek fell agonisingly short of the four-goal margin they needed to secure a place in the knockout stage.
From the outset, Phek imposed themselves on a strangely lethargic Mokokchung side. The breakthrough arrived in the 32nd minute when Johny capitalised on a defensive lapse to finish clinically. Veluta doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, his determined run and low drive leaving the Mokokchung goalkeeper hapless after another defensive lapse.
Any hopes of a Mokokchung revival were extinguished in the 59th minute when Shovelo delivered a composed third goal, thanks to yet another poor defending by the Mokokchung backline. The scoreline reflected Phek’s control but not their ultimate objective, as the elusive fourth goal never came.
Mokokchung, despite the humbling, progress to the quarterfinals as Group C winners on goal difference with +5. Wokha joins them in the knockouts, edging Phek on head-to-head results after both sides finished level on points and goal difference (+3).
For Mokokchung, the result is a warning sign ahead of the knockout stage. Their flat display, lack of urgency, and defensive frailties were brutally exposed, raising doubts about whether they can withstand stronger opposition. Wokha, meanwhile, may emerge as the group’s real threat, carrying both momentum and the element of surprise into the next round.