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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 28 (EMN): Mizoram defeated Sikkim 1-0 to lift the coveted North-East Dr. T Ao Trophy at the IG Stadium in Kohima on Tuesday evening.
A 75th-minute winner from midfielder David Lalrinmuana gave Mizoram the deserving win in a nail-biting final game which was played in front of a packed stadium.
Vying for the championship title, Malsawnfela came close to scoring in the 34th minute of the first half but Sikkim’s custodian Nindup Lepcha thwarted the danger ball.
Both sides failed to convert from the few spot kicks they received during the first half of the tightly contested game which had a low percentage of shots on target.
However, coming back after the breather, David Lalrinmuana with his solo effort, struck in a brilliant shot into the net in the 75th minute amidst cheering fans from Mizoram.
Fighting back to get into the game Sikkim failed to create enough chance to capitalise. While the two shots from captain Don Tshering Lepcha in the dying moments too failed to pass the Mizoram goalkeeper Lalmuansanga as Mizoram defended their score till the end of the final whistle.
Meanwhile, hosts Nagaland took the third position title after defeating Arunachal Pradesh in the morning.
Lhwetelhi Thopi and Rhitsho Mero scored two goals each for Nagaland while a goal each was netted by Tarh Dolu and R.D Karma for Arunachal Pradesh.
Winning the final title, Mizoram received a glittering trophy along with a cash prize of INR 10,00,000 and citations while Sikkim received INR 6,00,000 along with the runners-up trophy and citations.
The fair play award of INR 50,000 went to Arunachal Pradesh; David Lalrinmuana (Mizoram) bagged the man of the final award and received INR 10,000; Urgen Pintso Sherpa (Sikkim) was adjudged the best goalkeeper and received INR 10,000; Hemping (Nagaland) bagged the best defender award and received INR 10,000; Kilpo Namgyal Barfungpa was adjudged the best midfielder and received INR 10,000; Malsawnfela (Mizoram) bagged the best forward award and received INR 10,000; Rhitsho Mero (Nagaland) who has the credit of 10 goals received the highest scorer award with INR 10,000; Lalchungnunga Chhangte bagged the player of the tournament award and received INR 25,000.
Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio attended the final match and handed over prizes to the winners as the special guest.
Earlier, MLA and advisor of Youth Resources and Sports (YRS) Zale Neikha gave away prizes to the third and the fourth position holders. Nagaland received INR 2,00,000 while Arunachal received INR 1,00,000.
Earlier, before the final match, the closing ceremony was held wherein various artistes performed.
All the eight North-eastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura -- competed in the eight-day North-East Dr. T Ao Trophy on the theme, "together we can sour" which was organised by the government of Nagaland in collaboration with Nagaland Football Association and supported by the government of India.