Players and coaching staff of SP XI after their 8-1 win against Oilek FC on Tuesday at Loyem Memorial Astro Turf Ground, Tuensang town. (Photo Courtesy: SP XI)
Morung Express News
Tuensang | November 4
The 33rd Loyem Memorial Trophy (LMT) continued to produce breathtaking football and relentless goal-scoring form as fog, excitement, and energy filled the Loyem Memorial Astro Turf on Tuesday. Matchday 7 witnessed two emphatic victories, one a redemption story and the other a continuation of dominance.
In the day’s first fixture, Yungyangkhu FC finally found their rhythm after two consecutive losses, dismantling Legit FC 5-1 in a fiery contest that was virtually decided within the opening 15 minutes. The match began at a blistering pace, with Meyasemba drawing first blood in the 4th minute. What followed was a masterclass from Tarepnungsang, who netted a rapid-fire hat trick in the 8th, 9th, and 12th minutes, three goals in just five minutes that completely tore apart Legit’s backline.
The Yungyangkhu attack pressed relentlessly, combining precision passing and pace, leaving Legit stunned and chasing shadows. After the break, Khongo offered a brief moment of relief for Legit FC with a goal in the 56th minute, but any hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished when Tarepnungsang struck again in the 63rd minute to claim his fourth of the afternoon. The 5-1 win marked Yungyangkhu FC’s long-awaited first victory in three matches and breathed new life into their campaign.
If the first match was about revival, the second was about pure authority. SP XI, unbeaten and in unstoppable form, continued their ruthless march with an 8-1 demolition of Oilek FC. Limakumzuk Ao, already a standout performer in the tournament wasted no time asserting his presence, opening the scoring in the 4th minute. His teammates followed suit with a stunning first-half blitz: Beshang struck in the 17th, Menya Sipong in the 24th, Tialemba in the 28th, and Imti in the 31st minute, as SP XI stormed to a five-goal lead before halftime.
The relentless pressure resumed after the break. Limakumzuk added two more goals in the 36th and 52nd minutes, completing his second hat trick of the campaign and extending his total tally to 12 goals. Bichemli chipped in with another in the 58th minute to make it 8-0 before Donen netted a late consolation for Oilek FC in the 69th minute.
With the win, SP XI remain unbeaten and look like the team to beat in this year’s LMT, their chemistry, confidence, and attacking depth setting them apart. Oilek FC, meanwhile, have recorded one win, one draw, and one loss in their three outings.
As the tournament enters its decisive stage, the stakes continue to rise. On Wednesday, November 5, Shanen FC, led by the red-hot Ayenmongba will face Auyang FC at 12:30 p.m., followed by GHSS Hakushang taking on United Comets FC at 2:30 p.m. With teams beginning to eye the semifinals, every goal, every minute, and every tackle will count.
