Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 1
Meren’s second hat-trick of the tournament guided Pro-Streax United of Dimapur to register a convincing win against Khuzama Youth Organization (KYO) in their second-round match today.
The Dimapur team blanked Khuzama Youth Organization (KYO) 5-2 to make it through to the pre-quarters of the ongoing NSF Martyrs Memorial Trophy held at Kohima Local Ground.
Two goals from Menguse Sale of KYO, who scored in each half of the match, was not enough as KYO was humbled by the aggression of Pro-Streax Utd.
Menguse gave KYO and early lead in the 4th minute, however, Pro-Streax came back strong as they scored two quick goals in three minutes time of the first half.
After Meren netted the equalizer in the 16th minute, Kito Aye joined the celebration after he scored in the 18th minute. Just seven minutes left before the interval, KYO was taken aback again as Meren delivered in the 28th minute.Trailing two behind till the interval, a rejuvenated KYO took the second half with greater zeal. The early minutes of the second half witnessed more goals as Menguse found the net again in the 45th minute. But KYO’s celebration to minimize the score line was short lived as Meren scored his hat-trick in the 47th minute, only to become the first player to score two consecutive hat-tricks of this year’s edition of the 16thNSF Martyrs Memorial Trophy.
KYO were made to trail three behind as Pokhozo of Pro-Streax joined the scoring list after he got past the keeper in the 51st minute to take the score line to 5-2.
KYO’s effort to press for more goals proved futile as Avito Thaprü was penalized with a yellow card for unfair play.
The second match of the day also witnessed a one-sided match as Meriema Village Youth Organization (MVYO) downed Capital College of Higher Education, Kohima, with a humiliating score line of 6-0.
Capital College, who made to the second round after their victory against Nagaland University, Meriema campus in the preliminary round, were no match for MVYO, who dominated the entire 70-minutes match.
Apart from the emphatic victory, MVYO has more to celebrate as Neiphrezolie Üsou scored a hat-trick, only to become the eight-player to do so in this year’s edition.
Neiphrezolie made an early breakthrough in the 6th minute. Capital College players fought hard to stay in the game, however, their hope was demoralized during the second quarter of the match as MVYO scored three quick goals before the interval.
Kekhrie Chesotsu netted in the 26th minute, followed by another goal from Kekhriengulie in the 28th minute. Just three minutes before the interval, Kekhrie Chesotsu scored his second goal in the 33rd minute, leaving the Capital College with no hope of turning the match back to their favour.
Ahead with four goals, MVYO entered the second half with ease. All out to humiliate the college team, the MVYO players kept countering their opponents which led to Neiphrezolie scoring his second goal in the 45th minute. Six minutes later, Neiphrezolie registered his name in the list of hat-trick scorers as he scored his third goal in the 51st minute to take the score line to 6-0.
The exit of Capital College also led to the whitewash of all the college and school teams from the tournament. A total on nine college teams and one school team participated in this year’s edition.
With the victory, MVYO will next play against Pro-Streax United, Dimapur in the last 16.
