Santosh Trophy Group D Clash: Manipur Dominate Tripura 5–1
Agartala Dec 15: Tripura’s Santosh Trophy journey began on a difficult note after they were comprehensively beaten 5–1 by a well-organised Manipur team in their first Group ‘D’ fixture of the 79th Santosh Trophy football tournament at the Umakanta Mini Stadium on Monday.
The warning signs were visible even before kickoff during practice matches before the tournament opener, with Tripura’s fragile midfield proving to be the weak link. Manipur dominated the central corridor from the opening whistle, dictating the tempo and denying Tripura any sustained control of the game. The constant pressure soon exposed the backline, which struggled to cope with Manipur’s relentless forward movements.
Taking full advantage of the gaps, Manipur struck repeatedly and wrapped up the contest in emphatic fashion. Their dominance was firmly established in the first half, where they surged to a decisive 3–0 lead, effectively putting the match beyond Tripura’s reach.
Tripura’s lone moment of relief came when Amit Jamatia found the net, reducing the margin briefly. However, the goal failed to shift the momentum, as Manipur maintained control and saw out the remainder of the match comfortably.
Playing at home and backed by vocal supporters, Tripura were expected to respond strongly, but cohesion remained elusive. Their attacking play lacked penetration, and unnecessary ball retention frequently led to loss of possession, allowing Manipur to continue asserting their authority across the pitch.
The heavy loss has dealt an early setback to Tripura’s campaign and complicates their path to the knockout stage. Despite the blow, the Tripura coach remained optimistic, insisting that the focus would now shift to regrouping and delivering positive results in the upcoming matches. The encounter was conducted under the supervision of referee Simanta Kahar.
Nagaland upset Mizoram
Earlier in the day, Group ‘D’ witnessed an unexpected result in the tournament’s opening fixture, as Nagaland stunned Mizoram with a narrow victory at the same venue.
The afternoon clash saw both teams adopt an aggressive approach from the outset, engaging in a high-tempo contest marked by intense midfield battles and quick transitions. Each side looked eager to seize early control and apply attacking pressure.
Nagaland gained the upper hand through a rapid counter-attack, with Thit Lohe converting the move to score what proved to be the match-winning goal. Following the breakthrough, Nagaland reorganised defensively, opting for a disciplined structure while remaining alert for counter-attacking opportunities.
Mizoram pushed forward in search of an equaliser and created several promising moves, but Nagaland’s compact defence held firm. The resolute display ensured that the slender advantage was preserved until the final whistle, handing Nagaland a memorable 1–0 win. The match was officiated by referee Bibek Chhetri.
