Tripura defeated Mizoram in their opening match of the Santosh Trophy football tournament with an emphatic win.
Notably, Tripura is hosting the Pool – D group matches of the Santosh trophy for the first time.
The tournament started with Manipur facing Sikkim in the Pool D opener in Agartala today morning at the Umakanta Mini Stadium in which Manipur outplayed Sikkim.
In today’s evening match, Rajib Sadhan Jamatia and other players of the State team started the campaign in the Santosh Trophy with a commanding performance, boosting their morale significantly.
On Friday, at the Umakanta Mini Stadium, football enthusiasts witnessed Tripura’s players showcasing speed and skill. Outclassing the opposition in every aspect, Tripura secured a well-deserved victory against Mizoram by a 4-1 margin.
On paper, Mizoram was considered the stronger side by many football lovers. However, Javed Darlong and his teammates proved that Tripura’s footballers are no longer lagging behind other states. In terms of speed, skill, and strength, Tripura left Mizoram far behind, clinching a 4-1 win.
The first goal came in the 28th minute, scored by Parvez Bhuiya, giving Tripura an early lead.
Shortly before the end of the first half, Javed Darlong extended the lead, making it 2-0. With a solid lead at halftime, the State players, coached by DK Pradhan, intensified their attacks in the second half. Mizoram’s defense struggled to cope with the relentless pressure.
Towards the end of the game, a sudden counter-attack by Mizoram saw Kima scoring a goal to reduce the deficit to 1-2. However, Tripura responded immediately, with Javed Darlong scoring his second and the team’s third goal within a minute. A few minutes before the final whistle, substitute Sukanta Jamatia added the fourth goal, sealing the match for Tripura in style.
In the tournament opener, Manipur showcased their strength in the opening match, defeating Baichung Bhutia’s state, Sikkim, with a half-dozen goals. The match, part of the ‘D’ Group of the Santosh Trophy football tournament, took place on Friday morning at the Umakanta Mini Stadium.
Although Sikkim’s players put up a strong resistance in the first half, they succumbed to the speed and skill of Manipur’s footballers in the second half. Manipur secured their impressive 6-1 victory by playing exceptional passing football.
At halftime, the score was tied at 1-1, demonstrating how fiercely Sikkim resisted in the first half. However, in the second half, the Manipur players, pivoted around Ronald Singh, delivered a far more advanced and composed performance compared to the first half.
For the winning team, Khola Kpam Zahir Khan scored two goals, while the other four goals were contributed by Naoriban Roman Singh, Ngengbam Ronald Singh, Loangamba Meitei Akoijam, and captain Leimajam Sangkar Singh. Sikkim’s sole goal was scored by Rohit Chhetri. The match was officiated by Abdul Majid Chowdhury.
Manipur’s footballers dazzled the spectators with their remarkable performance in the tournament’s first match, capturing the attention of football enthusiasts.
(Tripura, Northeast)
