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Player of Friends United New Market (orange) and Monsang Students Union Manipur in action during their second round match at the Kohima local ground on Monday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 1 (EMN): Gideon Leo brace was not enough for Friends United New Market as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Monsang Students' Union Manipur in a nervy encounter during the second round match of the ongoing 19th NSF Martyrs' Memorial Trophy here at the Kohima local ground on Monday.
In the match, MSU started the match brightly and a brilliant effort from midfielder Alower set up Marconi to score in the 7th minute to give the team the lead. Gideon Leo was wasteful as he got his share to score but failed to find the back of the net in the first half.
Friends United came back stronger and threatened to score as Gideon hit the crossbar within the introduction of the second half. Ngamneirü, the striker of Monsang couldn't find his touch to finish the game with his scoring feat despite numerous chances created by the midfielders.
Gideon then scored in the 58th minute to equalise but didn’t take much time for MSU to pull back the lead as Ngamsha scored from Alower’s corner kick in the 62nd minute to make it 2-1.
Talismanic Gideon scored again in the 71st minutes to boost Friends United team’s confidence but the striker of MSU Ngamneiru got his breakthrough in the 75th minute making it 3-2 which proved to be the winning goal.
In the first match, Rising Star Mizoram registered an easy 5-1 win over Khrietho FC Zhadami during the second round to enter the pre-quarters.
Rinawma of Rising Star scored twice, while Isaac and Byrain Khongsai added a goal each to make it 4-0 in the first half. Substitute Lun scored a stunner through a long range kick to make it 5-0 in the 49th minute of the play.
Khrietho FC did score a consolation goal with their first shot on target as Keneikhrietuo headed home in the 64th minute but that was all from the team as they were knocked out of the tournament.
Up next, Rising Star Mizoram will now take on Monsang SU Manipur on Oct. 10 in the pre-quarterfinal match.
Tuesday’s matches
Tiema-Khe Kidima vs Kohima Science College at 12 pm
Tribal Brothers vs High School Taxi Drivers (XI) at 2pm
