The last matchday of the group stages of the ongoing MDFA Trophy 2025 saw a triple-header at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex on Saturday, with Team Gilgal, Super Seniors FC, and Doyang Strikers winning their respective matches. The quarterfinals of the tournament will begin on Monday, October 20.
Sports Society Soyim lose to Team Gilgal
Both teams came into the match with their quarterfinal berths already secured after beating defending champions Konyak Students’ Union Mokokchung in Pool A. However, the match served as a decider for the group standings, ending 2-1 in favour of Team Gilgal. Merensang Pongen scored in the first half for Team Gilgal, Moatemsu equalized in the second half for SSS, but Tongpang Jamir sealed the win for Team Gilgal.
SSS is the only team in the history of the MDFA Trophy to have participated in every edition of the tournament since 1993 but is yet to lift the title. Telongjem FC, on the other hand, is a relatively recent entrant in the tournament’s checkered history but has already won the trophy three times consecutively, one of only three teams to achieve this feat alongside Arkong SC and Snipers FC. While SSS continues its hunt for a maiden title, Telongjem FC aims to become the first team to lift the trophy four times.
Super Seniors FC overcome Intermingle Club
In the second match of the day, Super Seniors FC defeated the 2018 champions Intermingle Club in a must-win encounter. Super Seniors needed a win to qualify for the quarterfinals from Pool B, while Intermingle Club only required a draw. Super Seniors had earlier lost to Telongjem FC, while Intermingle Club played out a goalless draw against the same opponent.
The match ended 2-0 in favour of Super Seniors, with both goals scored in the second half by Nythung and Temjenmeren. Intermingle Club joined KSUM as former champions to be knocked out of the tournament, leaving Telongjem FC as the only former champion still in contention.
Vibrant Doyang Strikers see off NU Lumami
After losing 0-3 to Thunderbolt FC, NU Lumami needed not only to beat the formidable Doyang Strikers but to do so with a +2 goal difference to qualify from Pool C, a tall order. Their hopes were briefly lifted when Ngilei gave NU Lumami an early lead in the sixth minute. However, Doyang Strikers soon took control, with Yami scoring twice in quick succession and Eshong adding a third later. All goals came in the first half, as Doyang Strikers won 3-1.
Goals so far
A total of 26 goals have been scored in the 10 league matches so far, with no runaway top scorer and no hat-trick yet recorded. S Khongsai of Telongjem FC, Horam and Yami of Doyang Strikers, and Longkai of Chargers FC lead the charts with two goals each. Only one of the ten group-stage matches ended in a draw.