| Team leads tally with 27 points after first leg of tourney | ||
| Manipur League | ||
Imphal, Nov. 27: Manipur Brothers Sporting Union (MBSU) went down fighting 2-3 to North Imphal Sporting Association (NISA) in the last match of the first leg of the 4th Manipur State League 2009 played at Mapal Kangjeibung here on Friday. After the first leg NISA led the table with 27 points, followed by Tiddim Road Athletic Union with 22 and Southern Sporting Union on 20. The second leg matches are likely to start on the completion the 53rd Sir Churchand Singh Memorial Football Tournament. Today’s match between NISA and Manipur Brothers Sporting Union lacked intensity and urgency with the North Imphal side taking time to settle down. The team, however, got its act together and scored the lead in the 34th minute of play from a corner kick with a leaping S. Johnson finding the net. The North Imphal team, which frequented its rival territory at will, got their second goal through N. Rajesh Meitei in the 38th minute to take a 2-0 lead in the first half. Manipur Brothers Sporting Union did have their moments, but most of their forays fizzled out as they lacked co-ordination up front. In the second half, North Imphal further consolidated their lead by netting another goal in the 72nd minute. Th. Santosh ruffled the net for the 3-0 lead. Manipur Brothers, now desperate for a break, gave North Imphal a scare as they pumped in two goals in the dying moments. However, their efforts came too late and they failed to salvage the match. In the 80th minute, a goalmouth melee saw M. Romi Singh finding the net on his second attempt and in the 88th minute L. Boipu converted a penalty awarded for a handball inside the box. NISA, however, had the last laugh. | ||
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