Manipur bowed out to Tripura by 2-0 goals in the 75th Hero National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2021-22(NE Zone Qualifying Round-Group B) played at Main Stadium Khuman Lampak.
The host team won against Nagaland by a comprehensive margin, but failed to enlighten the spectators on Tuesday as Manipur wasted some easy chances in the beginning from Somishon Shirak and NG Bedeenpar Moyon, leading to frustration among the playing eleven.
The unassuming Tripura played quite cautiously and almost had the lead when Pritam Hossain beat the defender but lost balance and stamped upon the ball to the goaline by a whisker. But they had their moment when between Manipur goalkeeper Md.Abujar and defender's misjudgement over a pass, saw midfielder Manajit Singha Barua, latched into it to shoot home an open goal in the 42 minute for the lead in the first half.
Manipur pulled up their socks in the second and skipper Kh.Jacky Singh brought up some excitement as his shot, whizzed past off a few inches of the horizontal. As Tripura had tightly manned their fort well with the solitary lead, time zooms past with more mid field tussle.
The substitution of Manipur keeper Md.Abujar by Chingkhei Meitei failed to helped the host team as Tripura rise once again in the added time of the second half with Bikash Tripura heading home the winning goal off a cross in the 90 plus 3 minute for the victory today.
Tripura player BK Jamatia got a yellow card in the match.
In the second match, Mizoram beat Nagaland by 1-0 goals, to brighten their chances of qualifying from Group A.
Lalnuntluanga Bawitlung fetched the winning goal in 44 minute of play. Mizoram had to play with ten men after Lalhriatpula was sent off with a red card from double caution in 35 and 41 minute of play.
Nagaland player Kevisanyu Peseyie got a yellow card in the match.
This is Mizoram's second win in the qualifying round after they had beaten Tripura by 1-0 goal.
The last matches of the qualifying round will be played on December 2 with Tripura taking on Nagaland at 9.30 am while host Manipur will face Mizoram at 2 pm.
