Noklak, Mon and Chümoukedima secured wins, while the match between Kohima and Peren ended in a goal less draw in the ongoing Dr. T Ao Trophy.
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KOHIMA — Noklak, Mon and Chümoukedima secured wins, while the match between Kohima and Peren ended in a goal less draw on day 8 of the ongoing Dr. T Ao Trophy at Indira Gandhi Stadium (IGS), Kohima.
In Match 21 and the first match of the day on Friday, Noklak defeated Longleng 3-0 with Thangsoi M scoring two goals for his team.
Noklak wasted no time in taking control of the game with Thangsoi opening the account in the 7th minute, setting the tone for the match. He consolidated the team’s hold by scoring again in the 51st minute, before his teammate Lamsong L sealed the match with a goal in the 58th minute, taking the scoreline to 3-0 when the final whistle was blown.
Also read: Dr. T Ao Trophy 2025: Tuensang, Tseminyu, and Niuland secure wins
In a display of unity and sportsmanship, the two teams joined in prayer after the match.
Mon vs Zunheboto
In the second match of the day, Mon beat Zunheboto by a solitary goal in a hard-fought contest.
It was a tight match with both teams showing strong defensive discipline. However, the breakthrough came in the second half after Laiwang scored the lone goal for Mon in the 56th minute from a free kick just outside the penalty area.
As Zunheboto pressed for an equalizer, tensions flared briefly, resulting in Manton of Mon being shown a yellow card in the 65th minute following a late challenge but Mon managed to thwart the threat until the final whistle.
It may be mentioned that more than 20,000 were watching the match live, which the highest for a match in the tournament. People of Mon district came in droves to encourage their players, thus creating an electrifying atmosphere.
Chümoukedima vs Dimapur
In the third match of the day, which was Match 23 of the tournament, Chümoukedima defeated Dimapur 2-0 to top Group B table in style with maximum points.
Chümoukedima took control of ball possession early on, dictating the tempo with quick passing. Their effort paid off in the 18th minute when Lima (Jersey No. 12) broke the deadlock by slotting the ball into the back of the net. He struck again twelve minutes later, this time capitalising on a defensive lapse to double Chümoukedima’s lead in the 30th minute.
Tensions flared midway through the game as Dimapur were pressing to find opportunities to score, leading to yellow cards being shown to Hesaka of Dimapur and Devika of Chümoukedima for separate challenges.
However, Chümoukedima held the scoreline till the final whistle, recording third consecutive clean sheet of the tournament.
Kohima vs Peren
In the fourth and final match of the day, Peren and Kohima played out a tensed goalless draw in the highly anticipated contest, which was marked by strong defensive move, high intensity, and a flurry of yellow cards.
Both the teams showed intent to press forward, but failed to break the disciplined defensive line. Peren looked dangerous in wide areas, while Kohima threatened their opponents with quick counterattacks, but neither of them could find the breakthrough.
A total of five yellow cards were shown to players -- Namsibo and Kenumdi of Peren, and Menoneikho, Kevizakie and Kevisekho of Kohima -- during the match.
Both the teams have positives to take away from the goalless match, particularly their defensive performance, but the failure to score goal can cast doubt on the players as they head into the next stage of the tournament.
August 8 (Saturday) Matches
Kiphire vs Wokha at 09:00 am
Tuensang vs Nuiland at 11:00 am
Phek vs Mokokchung at 01:00 pm
Mon vs Shamator at 03:00 pm