Santosh Trophy: Tripura miss chances, share points with Sikkim; Manipur defeat Mizoram
Host Tripura's hopes of advancing to the main round of the Santosh Trophy suffered a setback on Sunday as they were held to a goalless draw by Sikkim in their Group D match at the Umakanta Mini Stadium on Sunday. The game was marked by missed opportunities, resolute defense, and some exceptional goalkeeping by Sikkim's Pranab Limbu.
The draw leaves Tripura with 4 points from two matches, while Manipur leads the group with 6 points. Tripura now faces a do-or-die situation in their final group match against Manipur on November 19. Only a win against Manipur will keep alive their hopes of progressing further.
In another match, Manipur defeated Mizoram by 2-1 goals.
Both teams displayed attacking intent from the outset, creating several scoring chances. However, they failed to capitalize, leaving the Tripura fans disappointed.
Tripura’s attackers Parvez Bhuiya and Jevad Darlong squandered two golden opportunities to break the deadlock. While Bhuiya’s close-range effort went wide, Darlong’s powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Limbu.
Sikkim’s goalkeeper Pranab Limbu emerged as the standout performer, denying Tripura on three occasions. His acrobatics under pressure kept the visitors in the game and earned them a valuable point.
Sikkim, too, had their moments. A missed penalty in the second half cost them dearly, as their forward sent the ball over the crossbar, squandering a chance to snatch a win.
After suffering a heavy defeat against Manipur earlier in the tournament, Sikkim’s determined performance on Sunday was unexpected. Football fans in Tripura had hoped for a comfortable victory, but their team’s inability to finish chances has now made their path to the main round precarious.
Manipur, with two wins in as many matches, poses a formidable challenge for Tripura. Tuesday’s encounter will be a true test of the host team’s resolve and ability to bounce back under pressure.
Despite the goalless draw, fans turned out in large numbers to support the team. Many expressed disappointment over the missed chances but remained hopeful for a strong showing in the decisive clash against Manipur.
“We were expecting a win today. It’s frustrating to see chances go begging, but the players have one more shot to make things right,” said a local football enthusiast.
The clash against Manipur on November 19 is Tripura's last chance to secure a spot in the main round. A win would propel them forward, while a loss or a draw would crush their dreams. All eyes will be on the state’s footballers as they gear up for the crucial battle.
Earlier, a match between Manipur and Mizoram was kicked off in the morning at Umakanta Mini Stadium. From the outset, both teams displayed aggressive and attacking play. Mizoram took the lead in the 26th minute through a brilliant goal scored by Kima. Manipur, however, fought back and equalized through Sunjanthan Rugi. Early in the second half, Naoru Romen put Manipur ahead with a stunning goal. Manipur then adopted a more defensive approach to protect their lead. Despite Mizoram's efforts to break down Manipur's defense, they were unable to find the equalizer and Manipur secured a crucial 2-1 victory.
(Tripura, Northeast)
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