The Chandra Memorial League Football in Agartala kicked off with high-energy football action on Saturday, showcasing the talent and competitive spirit of the local and out-of-state players. In two gripping matches, Town Club emerged victorious against Friends Union, while Tribeni Sangha and Lalbahadur settled for a draw in a match filled with intensity and missed opportunities.
Town Club Secures 2-0 Victory Over Friends Union
Town Club started their campaign with a convincing 2-0 win against Friends Union at Umakanta Maidan. Displaying a mix of local and out-of-state footballers, Town Club asserted their dominance right from the start, consistently launching attacks that kept Friends Union’s defense on its toes. Despite their relentless offensive efforts, they had to wait 27 minutes for their first breakthrough. Jon Debbarma, from inside the box, skillfully passed the ball to Boyar Jamatia, who converted it into a goal, giving Town Club a 1-0 lead.
After conceding, Friends Union, predominantly composed of local talents, attempted several counter-attacks but couldn’t break through Town Club’s defense. The first half ended with Town Club holding onto their one-goal advantage.
The second half saw continued pressure from Town Club. However, they missed a golden opportunity to double their lead when Jon Debbarma’s penalty kick was brilliantly saved by Friends Union’s goalkeeper, Litan Jamatia, who dived to his right to make the save.
The missed penalty, however, did not deter Town Club. In the 27th minute of the second half, Chittaranjan scored the second and final goal for Town Club, sealing their 2-0 victory. Despite both teams playing somewhat uncoordinated football in the latter part of the match, the scoreline remained unchanged. Referee Pallab Chakraborty issued three yellow cards during the game. Ratan Kishore Jamatia of Town Club was awarded the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Tribeni Sangha and Lalbahadur Play Out a 1-1 Draw
In a thrilling encounter later at the Umakant Mini Stadium today, Tribeni Sangha and Lalbahadur ended their match in a 1-1 draw. The game was marked by high intensity, with both teams displaying commendable skill and strategy. Lalbahadur started strong, aiming to dominate the game early. Their efforts paid off in the 27th minute of the first half when Richard Vanlal Halaam scored, giving Lalbahadur a 1-0 lead as they headed into halftime.
Tribeni Sangha, however, came out in the second half with a renewed strategy, switching to a more aggressive 4-3-3 formation that increased their attacking pace. The dynamic midfield pairing of Alkapej and Nura Muya led the charge, constantly pressuring Lalbahadur’s defense. Their persistence was rewarded in the 9th minute of the second half when Alkapej scored a powerful right-footed shot that deflected off Lalbahadur’s goalkeeper, Shashan Kumar Jamatia, and into the net, leveling the match at 1-1.
Following the equalizer, Tribeni Sangha continued to dominate, with Nura Muya creating several chances, but their efforts were not enough to secure a win. Nura Muya missed three critical opportunities that could have swung the game in Tribeni Sangha’s favor. As the match ended in a draw, both teams walked away with one point each. Referee Biplab Sinha showed two yellow cards in this match, and Alkapej was named the best footballer of the match for his stellar performance.
(Tripura, Football)