Correspondent
Kohima, October 9
Except the former champions Nagaland Police making an unbeatable stand to enter the quarter-finals, the other three matches of the students’ memorial soccer tourney today were decided through tie-breaker with District Execution Force (DEF) Kohima and Orion Football Club booking their quarter final berths while Viper FC Nerhema managed to be the last team for pre-quarters. Playing the first match of the day and also the last of the preliminary rounds, Viper FC Nerhema defeated Zeva Club Zhavame by 5-4 via tie-breaker as the teams were locked in 1-1 draw during the stipulated 70 minutes play. Zeva Club managed to score first through M. Krocha within the 2nd minute of play and managed to hold the lead till the lemon break. But, it was in the 13th minute of the second half that Viper FC returned to the game through Pelesietuo’s equalizer to end allotted time in a draw.
The penalty shoot-out favoured Viper as they managed to net five while Zeva Club converted only four.
The second match between DEF Kohima and Twenty-XI Viswema was also closely fought, which also witnessed the first red card of the tourney.
DEF Kohima won the match by 5-4 via tie-breaker as the teams were locked in 1-1 draw in full 70 minutes play. T. Neikha of Twenty-XI received the first yellow card of the match in the 9th minute but they also managed to score first through Metol Neikha in the 20th minute. However, the uniformed personnel also were successful to score the equalizer within the next nine minutes through Vizakie Angami.
The second half didn’t witness any movement in the score board, but was filled with action in the field as the referee cautioned three cop players with yellow card while one of them was send off with the first red card of the tourney. Rokovolie Zashümo was penalised in the 44th minute, follow by two yellow cards against cops scorer Vizakie in the 52nd and 61st minute directly sending him back to bench while Velulo Khamo received was the third person to be cautioned.
Taking on the tie-breaker favoured the cops as they scored five against four of Twenty-XI.
Playing the third match, the former champions Nagaland Police blanked Tyrant’s FC by 5 goals. Limakumzum scored a hat-trick to become the highest scorer of the tourney so far with 10 goals while Saku contributed two goals.
Neither sides were able to penetrate into the rival nets till the last five minutes of the first half, but Saku drew the first blood for the cops in the 31st minute while Limakumzum opened his account with the second goal for the team a minute before the lemon break. In the breather half, it was Limakumzuk moving with two consecutive goals, including the hat-trick, in the 55t and 67th minute to become the highest scorer of the tourney. Saku sealed the score board with the fifth goal two minutes before the final whistle.
Here too, a total of four yellow cards were shown during the match two each against both sides. Alfred and Timas from the cops side and Visito and Neibisetuo (goal keeper) of Tyrant’s were the card recipients.
In the last match of the day, Orion Football Club defeated St. Joseph’s College by 8-7 via tie-breaker as the match ended in a goalless draw.
The match though witness any scores but here too four players being cautioned with yellow cards during the 70 minutes play. Walong, Kazuhito and Zevito of St. Joseph’s College were penalized along with Kelelo Koza of Orion FC.
The tie breaker was also close as both sides took 11 shots each. In the first five they managed four each, but in the sudden death they went with converting two each and missing two each. However, it was the 11th shot that St. Joseph’s College missed but Orion FC scored to find place in the quarter-finals.
