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Zonipang striker Suponglemba scored the equalizer of the match when he outpaced the Intermingle backline and shot the ball past Nungsangyanger into the net. (Morung photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | October 23
In an epic semifinal encounter, Zonipang SA defeated Intermingle Club to make it to the final of the MDFA Trophy for the third year in a row.
Both teams were projected as pre-tournament favourites and the match up today was a repeat of last year’s MDFA Trophy final where Intermingle Club pipped Zonipang by a solitary goal.
Intermingle maintained a solid title defense campaign winning all their matches so far and it looked like they were on course to the final when Hanglem found the back of the net in the 51st minute. Ratobe Zeliang took a low corner kick from the right flank which Hanglem converted by chipping the ball with his left foot that lobbed past Zonipang goalie Mangyanger.
Even with a goal behind, however, Zonipang SA never looked out of the game and their persistence paid dividends when their midfield stronghold Awang delivered a brilliant pass from the middle of the pitch to Suponglemba in the forward who outpaced the Intermingle backline and beat Intermingle custodian Nungsangyanger to find the equalizer in the 57th minute. Facing one on one, Suponglemba hammered the ball in with a powerful kick with his left foot that went past Nungsangyanger’s outstretched left hand and into the net. Suponglemba has so far scored 7 goals in the tournament, 2 less than Temjenmeren of SSS Yellow.
Both sides continued to attack each other after the equalizer and Zonipang succeeded in the 63rd minute to take the lead when Retso Mero scored his fifth goal in the tournament. It was Awang once again who clinically set up the ball for Retso Mero through a free kick which the later executed with perfection to give Zonipang the winner. Both goals by Zonipang today were scored by their strikers after outpacing the opponent’s defense line. If speed and pace can win you football matches, Zonipang proved it today.
There was only one offside in the whole match today which was committed by Intermingle while neither teams made any substitutions throughout the 90 minutes. Intermingle committed 8 fouls while Zonipang made it 11. Three Intermingle players were shown the yellow card in the match, Wapongtemjen and Ratobe Zeliang for unsporting behavior and Imsuwapang for foul play. Intermingle won 8 corner kicks while Zonipang found it 7 times. The match was so evenly poised that both teams made 10 shots on goal each with Zonipang finding the target four times and Intermingle thrice. It was Zonipang, however, who came out on top and they will be looking for their third MDFA title when they face Alempang YA or Telongjem FC on October 26.
