Mon kept their quarterfinal-final hopes alive with a gritty 1-0 win over Zunheboto in Match 22 of the Dr. T Ao Trophy 2025 on Friday. The contest was evenly balanced in the first half, with both sides displaying solid defensive organisation and allowing few openings in the final third.
The breakthrough arrived in the 56th minute when Mon was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box. Laiwang stepped up and delivered a curling effort that took a decisive deflection off the Zunheboto wall, leaving the goalkeeper wrong footed as the ball nestled into the net. Zunheboto increased the tempo in search of an equaliser, but Mon’s defence held strong, weathering the pressure and preserving their narrow advantage. The game saw its only booking in the 65th minute when Manton of Mon was cautioned for a late challenge.
The fixture attracted the highest online viewership of the tournament so far, with more than 20,000 fans watching live. The Mon district supporters earned praise for their passionate and vocal support, creating an electric atmosphere that spurred the players on.
The result ended Zunheboto’s campaign, leaving them with one win and three losses from their four matches. Mon, meanwhile, climbed to joint-top of Group A alongside Tuensang on seven points from three games. They will face Shamator in their final group fixture on August 9, while Niuland, with six points from three matches, will take on Tuensang. With Mon, Tuensang and Niuland all in contention for the two available quarterfinal spots from the group, the last day of the group stage promises high drama.