The MDFA Trophy 2023 has been a thrilling journey, featuring remarkable records and unforgettable moments. The tournament commenced on October 17 and saw its group stages conclude on October 27, with 14 teams competing in 27 league matches. Here are some highlights of the tournament thus far:
Goals Galore: A total of 104 goals have been scored in the 27 league matches, averaging an impressive 5.7 goals per game. With 7 more matches yet to be played, this year’s tournament might witness the highest number of goals in MDFA history.
Drawless Tournament: Surprisingly, not a single match has ended in a draw. As the competition enters the knockout stages, this could mark the first time in MDFA history without any drawn matches.
Defensive Struggles: In Pool B, the 16 United Brothers conceded a challenging 19 goals in just three matches, an unfortunate record. Meanwhile, in Pool A, the Dare Devils (Assam Rifles) conceded 12 goals in just two matches.
Hat-Trick Heroes: The tournament has seen four remarkable hat-tricks, achieved by Tarepnungsang of Brotherhood FC, Haotensen Kipgen of Telongjem FC, Seiminthang Haokip of Telongjem FC, and Imtikumba of Arka United.
Golden Boot Leader: David of Konyak Students’ Union Mokokchung (KSUM) is the tournament’s leading goal scorer with an impressive tally of 9 goals. Tarepnungsang of Brotherhood FC is the closest contender with 4 goals, while Shiponglemba of SSS and the duo of Haotensen Kipgen and Seiminthang Haokip from Telongjem FC have 3 goals each.
David’s Dominance: David’s incredible performances go beyond goal-scoring; he’s the only player to have scored both a haul and a glut. He netted four goals against Legendary Yeomanly Misfits and then delivered a stunning 5-goal performance against Zonipang SA.
Former Champions’ Challenge: Former champions, Zonipang SA, faced a tough run, conceding 9 goals against KSUM without scoring. This might be the largest margin of defeat suffered by a former champion in MDFA history. Zonipang SA conceded a total of 15 goals across three matches while only managing to score 1.
Final before the Final: Should Telongjem FC and KSR Team emerge victorious in their respective quarterfinal matches, they will meet in the semifinals, promising an exciting matchup.
Discipline on Display: A total of 24 Yellow Cards have been shown in the tournament thus far, with no Red Cards issued.
Quarterfinal Tickets: Entry tickets for the quarterfinals and beyond will be priced at Rs 100 each.
(Please note that this data is not official MDFA information. Any discrepancies may be reported to Mokokchung Times for necessary corrections.)