Sets up rematch with Mizoram
SHILLONG: Ebormi Buam rocketed Meghalaya into the state’s first final of the Dr T Ao Memorial Football Tournament in Aizawl on Thursday, shocking defending champions and favourites Manipur 1-0.
Meghalaya thus avenged their defeat of last year at the hands of the same opponents. That match was also a semifinal, where Manipur won 1-0.
Buam’s goal came in first half stoppage time and Manipur were unable to respond in the second half, with Meghalaya holding on until the final whistle.
The defending champions started the tournament with an easy 4-0 victory over Assam, before beating Sikkim 1-0 in the three-team Group B.
Meghalaya had to come through in a more difficult Group A, taking down Tripura and Nagaland, but losing to Mizoram, who were comprehensive 4-0 winners.
Last year’s third placed team will now face a rematch with the hosts Mizoram, who were runners-up last year.
Mizoram won their Thursday semifinal 1-0 against a determined side from Sikkim, who will now take on the 2013 champions in the third place play-off.
Lalnunmawia scored the winning goal for Mizoram in the 80th minute.
The host state also won the tournament in 2012, while this is the best result for Meghalaya.
The play-off and final will be held on Saturday.
Meghalaya won a precursor to the T Ao tournament, the Fraternity Gold Cup, in 1993 and they did so then under the guidance of Hering Shangpliang, who is coaching the present team.
Shangpliang, a respected football coach in the state said he was happy with Thursday’s result, but the sternest test still awaits as it will be difficult to get the better of Mizoram on their home turf in Saturday’s final with a passionate crowd behind them.