GUWAHATI: Meghalaya went down to Mizoram 2-4 via tie-breaker in a gripping final of the 2nd Dr T Ao North East International NEC Gold Cup Under-21 Football Championship 2019 at the SAI Ground here on Thursday.
The match was locked 1-1 at the end of regulation time after F. Lalnunthuanga struck first blood for Mizoram in the 27th minute and Ronald K. Nonglait drew parity for Meghalaya in the 65th minute.
In the tie-breaker, Nonglait was the lone striker who found the net for Meghalaya while PC Lalhriatpuia, F. Lalnunthuanga and Laalmuanawma kept their nerve to score and help Mizoram annex the title.
The champion team bagged Rs 8lakh as prize money while the runners-up team got Rs 4lakh.
Around 5,000 spectators attended the match which was played under floodlights.
Clubs from three foreign nations along with teams from all the eight states of the region took part in the tournament.
The North Eastern Council along with the sports department of the Assam government and Oil India Limited were the principal sponsors of the event.