MDFA Trophy: Wins for Zonipang SA & Intermingle Club
Stephen Mayen Reech of Zonipang SA and Jungpitrong of SSS Yellow vie for the ball during the first quarterfinal match of the MDFA Trophy 2019. (Morung photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | October 21
The knockout stages of the ongoing MDFA Trophy 2019 started today with the first two quarterfinal matches being played in front of the jam-packed galleries of mkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung.
Zonipang SA went past SSS Yellow in the first quarterfinal match via tie-breakers while Intermingle Club steamrolled through the Kumlong SA hurdle in the second quarterfinal.
A defiant SSS Yellow without any marquee player in their lineup shocked Zonipang when the tournament’s leading scorer Temjenmeren swirled in a beauty from the right flank of the D-box with his left foot in the 26th minute. However, Zonipang striker Retso Mero found the equalizer in the 39th minute with a well-timed header that SSS custodian Imkumer could not stop. Nigerian national Stephen Mayen Reech made his appearance for Zonipang for the first time in the tournament today but he could not affect any damage to the opposition and was replaced in the second half.
Zonipang resorted to some apparent tactical change in the second half of the match when they resorted to a more conservative game plan. Zonipang players exhibited a more skillful performance but SSS Yellow showed more grit and will power and made more attempts on goal in the second half. SSS Yellow’s leading striker Temjenmeren nearly found his second goal of the match when his shot bounced off the Zonipang goal bar. The score line remained at 1-1 by the end of regulation time and neither side could manage to alter it by the end of extra-time. Eventually, the winner of the match was decided through a tie-breaker where Zonipang won 3-1 in the penalty shoot-out.
The second quarterfinal match was an anticlimax to the first when Intermingle Club humbled Kumlong SA by 6 goals to nil, with three goals being scored in the first half and the second half respectively. Opanglemzung and Hanglen scored two goals each while Nungshimoa and Lanutoshi scored one apiece. Intermingle Club will face Zonipang SA in the first semifinal on Wednesday.
The third quarterfinal match will be played tomorrow between Telongjem FC and Moanungsang Memorial SC followed by the fourth quarterfinal between Alempang YA and Supervene United FC.
