The intensity and competitiveness of the Mokokchung Inter-Ward Football Tournament was on full display in the second semifinal as former champions Sangtemla Ward overcame strong title contenders Sungkomen Ward 3-2 in a gripping encounter at Imkongmeren Sports Complex on Thursday.
It was a match that showcased grassroots football at its finest, thrilling local fans as 2023 champions Sangtemla once again denied Sungkomen a place in the final. It was déjà vu for Sungkomen, who had also exited at the semifinal stage last year against eventual winners Arkong.
Sangtemla took the lead in the 38th minute through their left-forward Bapen, but Sungkomen responded swiftly with Medemmar leveling in the 43rd minute to send both teams into halftime locked at 1-1. The second half saw a quick breakthrough as Opangtemjen put Sangtemla ahead in the 48th minute. However, Sungkomen’s captain and tournament top scorer Tarepnungsang equalized in the 60th minute with his sixth goal in four matches, keeping his team’s hopes alive.
With momentum swinging back and forth, it was experience that made the difference. Sangtemla’s veteran playmaker R Achi, the tournament’s oldest player, turned back the clock with a decisive strike in the 65th minute, putting his team ahead for the third time. The veteran scored a hat-trick in the 2023 final to lead his team to the title, and time will tell if he can deliver another decisive performance on April 5 to help Sangtemla reclaim the crown.
Despite Sungkomen’s relentless push for another equalizer, Sangtemla’s defense stood resolute, ensuring their passage to the final. The match had its fiery moments, with Imnasunep (Sungkomen) and Bapen (Sangtemla) both receiving yellow cards in the closing stages.
Sangtemla will now face first-time finalists Dilong Ward in the title clash on April 5. Dilong’s path to the final has been nothing short of dramatic, securing their place with back-to-back penalty shootout victories—over Tongdentsuyong in the quarterfinals and Mongsenbai Ward in the semifinals—with goalkeeper Imtisashi emerging as the hero on both occasions.
The final promises to be an enthralling contest, with Sangtemla eyeing their second title and Dilong aiming to etch their name in history as first-time champions. A Sangtemla victory would see them join Arkong as the only teams to have won the trophy twice, while a Dilong triumph would introduce a new champion—making them the fifth team to claim the title in the tournament’s six-year history.