IMPHAL, September 3: AIM, Khabam Lamkhai defeated ESU, Wangkhei by 5-1 of the ongoing 7th Manipur State League at the Imphal Mapal Kangjeibung as two players found the back of the nets twice each.
AIM has now two wins from the same number of matches while the Wangkhei team has a win and a loss.
Playing the 10th match of the tournament, the Khabam Lamkhai team had to come back from 0-1 in the second half to turn the table and seize the win from the Wangkhei team.
The ESU players were showing some of their first match spirit and strength in the first half of the match and managed to find the back of the net once leading the match by 1-0 till the end of the first half.
However, the ESU seem to have left their spirit and strength in their dugout during the half as the more experienced AIM took full opportunity and found the back of the net five times during the second half of the match.
ESU striker Lamminthang Touthang added another goal to his three from the first game to score for the team in the 43rd minute of the match.
AIM’s equaliser was provided by K Naoton in the 53rd minute from a pass off T Santosh.
The second half flooded with goals from the AIM strikers as K Naoton headed home a volley from L Gouro just ten minutes after the team’s equalizer. The third goal for the team came just one minute later in the 64th minute from T Santosh.
Substitute player, Th Vandona proved the fourth for the winning team in the 89th minute from a pass off M Deepak Singh.
T Santosh added his second of the match in the last minute of the match in the 90th minute.
The only glitches for AIM came in the 67th and 82nd minute of the match when the referee cautioned scorer Th Vandona and captain W Ngouba Singh respectively.
AIM coach, W Khogen Singh in his post-match briefing said his players played freely in the first half which led to the one goal deficit; however, his player did get quite a few chances at the goal and failed to convert them.
He continued that in the second half his players came in stronger and controlled the match scoring five goals.
He continued that though the first half disappointed him, his players changed their styles in the second half and played with coordination.
He however added that all the 11 teams in the MSL are not easy opposition, all of them play well and hence managed to reach the top league of the state, he added.
ESU coach, Md Rahman in his briefing said, his team comprising mostly of juniors were unable to play their natural games against the much experienced AIMS players.
He continued that there was no co-ordination between his two defenders and the midfield was also not upto the mark.
His team lack stamina, speed, ball tackling and possession against the much stronger and experience AIM team.
He continued that his team will try to work on their weakness before the next game.